What is Creosote, how does it get in the chimney and why is it dangerous?
The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) recommends that masonry chimneys should be cleaned when 1/4″ of sooty build-up and creosote is present. Factory built insert fireplaces can actually become a hazard with a much thinner build-up on the inside walls. Either type can reach a dangerous level after burning as little as a cord of wood, so your cleaning schedule may end up being 1 or 2 times per year. Even if you don’t use your chimney much, there is always the chance that animals have built nests during the summer that can form a blockage or things like leaves can accumulate during the Fall.
