The Risks of Creosote

As a homeowner with a fireplace, the holidays and winter offer some of the coziest memories to be made with family and friends. With any large fixture at your home, there is some maintenance and upkeep that homeowners should consider. The biggest concern when it comes to maintenance of your chimney and fireplace is the build-up of creosote. Let’s take a closer look at what this is and what risks it could pose for homeowners. 

What is Creosote?

Creosote buildup is a normal part of having fires in your fireplace. It’s a mixture of many chemicals that collect into a sticky, tar-like consistency. As it collects, it gets hard to remove. It can be quite pesky and annoying as it comes with an overwhelming, unpleasant smell. 

Risks Associated With Creosote

There are several risks that are associated with creosote buildup. Health, aesthetic, and cleanliness concerns arise as it collects and is neglected. 

Health Concerns 

As creosote accumulates, the smell can become strong and potentially dangerous to inhale making it toxic to breathe in. It can be irritating for skin, eyes, and respiratory systems. Heavy, continuous exposure can even increase chances of cancer of your skin, lungs, pancreas, amongst others. It’s also unpleasant if you have asthma or other respiratory issues.

Aesthetic & Cleanliness

It’s important to get ahead of a heavy buildup because as it collects inside of your fireplace, it is harder to remove. A severe buildup may even require a complete replacement of your chimney liner rather than just a cleaning. There are several levels of buildup, and a chimney professional will determine which one is correct for you.

Safety

A buildup of creosote also drastically increases your risk for a house fire because creosote is highly flammable. It is actually one of the leading causes of house fires. Even a small amount can catch fire easily, even if just exposed to intense heat from a burning fire. These types of firs spread quickly and rapidly.

How To Tackle Creosote

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly encourages homeowners to schedule annual inspections and cleanings to tackle creosote. Not only can this mitigate the risks mentioned, but it can also get ahead of any potentially destructive, damaging, and costly repair needs. In fact, there are actual specific stages of buildup that chimney professionals look for. Depending on the level will determine the approach your chimney professional takes. Whether it’s a routine sweep or requires special chemicals, professionals at Burlington Fireplace can help homeowners out.

Need to Schedule Maintenance or Repairs? Call Burlington Fireplace Today

If you need to book annual maintenance, don’t forget to call your chimney professional today. If you’re in the Burlington area, call Burlington Fireplace to schedule an appointment for your annual chimney inspection or any other chimney needs. We provide service to customers throughout southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, including Sturtevant, WI; Rockford, IL; Union Grove, WI; and Des Plaines, IL. No matter if you’re looking to install a new fireplace or schedule maintenance, we can help.