Creosote prevention for your Indianapolis home or business may not be something that you typically think about, but this dangerous, tar-like compound that forms as a product of poor combustion is something that you should be aware of. If it’s allowed to build up in excess, it can cause a chimney fire, which can lead to a house fire, putting your loved ones at risk. Here are four ways to prevent excess creosote in your Indianapolis home or business.
4 Ways to Prevent Excess Creosote in Your Chimney
- Use Proper Fuel: The most important thing you can do to prevent creosote is to use proper fuel. Properly seasoned hardwood firewood is best, as softwood and green or damp wood can cause creosote to build up rapidly. This is because these woods cause rapid changes in chimney temperature or burn coolly, producing a lot of smoke.
- Avoid Exposed or Incorrectly Sized Chimneys: Chimneys on an exterior wall or that stick up far into the air are cold, and a cold chimney will build up creosote. Similarly, adapting an efficient appliance to a larger chimney can cause gasses to back up and cool, providing them with more opportunities to form creosote.
- Provide Proper Maintenance: Regular chimney sweeping is a vital part of chimney maintenance to help remove creosote buildup on a regular basis to prevent hazards. You should have a sweeping performed at least once a year, depending on usage, with households using softwood as a primary heat source requiring several cleanings annually.
- Remove Poor Offsets or Elbows: Chimney gasses want to rise, escaping up the chimney without contacting the walls. Bends cause the gasses to hit the chimney walls, disrupting flow and slowing down the exhaust, giving it more chances to attach to your chimney walls in the form of creosote.
By understanding what causes creosote to build up in your chimney system, you can avoid the potential sources of this compound, keeping your home safe and healthy. If you have an issue with existing creosote in your chimney or need help with creosote prevention in your Indianapolis home, the experienced professionals at Clean Sweep 317 can help. Why not give us a call today to see how our friendly team can help you?