Chimney Clean & Inspections in Baltimore City and County

Every time you use your fireplace creosote is deposited in the chimney lining. Creosote is highly flammable, for this reason, it is important to reduce the amount of buildup that occurs in order to avoid a dangerous fire. The creosote builds up anytime a fireplace is used. It is advised to brush off the flaky soot with a chimney brush after you use your fireplace and it has cooled down.

If the creosote buildup continues without getting cleaned it turns into hard, black shiny flakes. The flakes contain hardened tar that isn’t so easy to remove. The most common tool used to remove this is a rotary wire brush.

The most extreme creosote buildup occurs when the creosote is layered on top of other layers of creosote creating a thick hard substance. A hot fire can easily ignite this type of creosote, which can cause a hazardous fire. In this case, it is often recommended to replace the chimney liner or remove the substance with strong chemicals.