great posting Ray about chimneys. I would be interested to read here how those burning wood are taking care of their chimneys. I do not have a wood stove or fireplace in this house but have burned wood many times in a previous home. due to the highth of the chimney we had a relative or hired someone to clean the chimney. I found it interesting when we hired a professional chimney sweep that he did it all from inside and made no mess at all but he sure did get a lot of crap out of that old brick chimney. again thanks for the very interesting post Ray. Lee
On Wed, Oct 01, 2008 at 06:53:51PM +1000, Ray Boyce wrote: > Fuel oil and natural gas prices have soared, and with them so has the > popularity of alternative fuels. Wood stove, pellet stove and fireplace use > are all on the rise, and with each of these comes a hidden danger that every > dedicated "wood burner" needs to keep in mind: Burning wood creates > creosote, and if left untreated creosote can cause fires. > > The "Skinny" on Creosote > > When wood fire burns, it releases unburned gases. These unburned gases > condensate on the walls of the chimney liner or flue tile and form a tarry > or glazed substance called creosote. Creosote becomes dangerous when allowed > to accumulate in the chimney, where it becomes a fuel source for a potential > chimney fire. Creosote buildup can be minimized by burning small hot fires > and using dry, well seasoned wood, but the reality is the formation of > creosote from burning wood cannot be avoided. > > The Dangers of Creosote Buildup > > A chimney fire will occur when built-up creosote deposits are ignited by > extreme heat from the fireplace. For this to occur, the creosote must be > subjected to high temperatures-temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees or > so. Although 1,000-plus degrees may seem a bit extreme, the following quote > from the March 1990 Home & Hearth Magazine puts this all in good > perspective: > > "Creosote buildup, by itself or in combination with other factors, was > involved in 92 percent of chimney fires reported in a study commissioned by > the Wood Heating Alliance. A buildup of as little as 1/8 to 1/4 inch of > creosote is sufficient to create a fire hazard." > > First Key to Safety is Cleaning > > Eventually, every chimney requires a manual cleaning to remove creosote > build-up. Since the formation of creosote is an unavoidable byproduct of > burning wood, cleaning your chimney becomes an unavoidable task as well. > Cleaning a chimney on your own is a dirty job and is somewhat difficult to > do. The proper brushes and techniques should be used to ensure that the > sides of the chimney are left clean from creosote. And, more importantly, > proper inspection should be done at every cleaning to ensure there are no > structural defects, such as cracks or missing mortar joints in the chimney > flue that could lead to eventual safety problems. For these reasons it is > highly recommended that the task of cleaning be left to a CSIA Certified > professional chimney sweep. The frequency for the cleanings can vary, based > on the amount of use that the fireplace receives, but should never be longer > than a year between cleanings. > > "Chemical Cleaning" is a Great Idea, Too > > Understanding that creosote can begin to reform within a few days after > cleaning, a regular method of ongoing maintenance is always recommended. To > accomplish this, chemical cleaners are a great solution. Chemical cleaners, > used during burning, will help to prevent creosote from reforming, as well > as help to reduce chimney odors. These types of cleaners can be found in > several different forms, including powders, liquid sprays, logs and sticks. > When selecting a product to use, keep in mind that the best alternative in > chemical cleaners is one that can be used on a daily basis with every burn. > My experience has been that the liquid sprays, such as ACS's Anti-Creo-Soot, > are the best choice when selecting a cleaner. They tend to be the least > expensive per application, they're extremely easy to use and, since they are > used with every burn, they are the most effective at reducing ongoing > creosote buildup. > > Burning wood, whether in a fireplace or a wood-burning appliance, offers > many advantages to the homeowner, including the lure of heating with wood > and the joy of stoking the fire. The energy savings that can be gained by > wood as an alternative fuel source have motivated many homeowners to become > "wood burners." By taking a couple of steps to keep your fireplace clean > from creosote buildup you will enjoy all of the benefits of natural wood > without the risks of fire. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > -- Your computer account is overdrawn. Please see Big Brother. Come and chat with me at #quietzone on irc.newnet.net
