10/21/2026
Hello wood burning fireplace fans! Just a reminder to regularly clean your chimney at least once a year to insure you and your homes safety.
The longer you go in between cleanings the more likely the buildup in your chimney will develop into a higher degree creosote which can be up to 20x more expensive to remove than the standard first degree buildup.
Creosote is a guaranteed byproduct from burning wood and must be removed to ensure safe use of your fireplace.
1st Degree Creosote
• Appearance: Soft, powdery, flaky, or ash-like soot (black or brown).
• Cause: Good combustion, adequate airflow, a warm flue, and properly seasoned firewood.
• Removal: Easily brushed away using a standard Chimney Brush.
2nd Degree Creosote
• Appearance: Hard, crunchy, or shiny black flakes resembling dry tar.
• Cause: Restricted incoming air supply (such as in wood stoves or glass-door fireplaces) causing smoke to cool and condense.
• Removal: More difficult to scrub and typically requires specialized tools like a rotary loop or drill-driven whip.
3rd Degree Creosote (Glazed Creosote)
• Appearance: Thick, hard, glossy, tar-like or honeycombed coating that looks like hardened molasses or a thick glaze.
• Cause: Incomplete combustion, cold or uninsulated flues, oversized flues, or burning unseasoned ("green") wood.
• Removal: Extremely dangerous and flammable; hard to remove and often requires chemical treatments, specialized poultices, or full chimney liner replacement.