I cleaned my chimney prior to last burning season with an appropriate wire brush by pulling it up and down throught the chimney several times. When I was finished, I could clearly see most of the terracotta tile and even the joints all the way down. I then installed a fireplace insert for the first time and burned about a cord and a half of wood last winter. I just went up to clean the chimney and it's caked in a glossy black substance which I believe is creosote. I ran the brush up and down several times as last year and it removed some of the loose stuff, but the black coating is baked on all the way up to the top (2 stories) and the wire brush just glides over it without even scratching it.

So, is it OK to leave it like that? I know creosote is dangerous and should be removed, but I'm not sure what to do. Do any of the creosote removers actually work, and if so, how do I dispurse it through a 2 story chimney?

 

http://www.cleanyourchimney.com/

 

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/woodburningfireplace

 

I have the metalbestos pipe and it comes pretty clean with the brush. For what is left I don't worry about.

I've heard the creosote removers work pretty well. They work by burning hot. I would do that and then brush again.

It sounds like you need to do the small HOT fire concept vs stuffing with wood and banking all the time. I get mine cranking hot on a regular basis and the lower chimney doesn't build up. Its the mid to upper part where the smoke cools and the unburned fumes bake on that can be the problem - but you can really scrub the upper section with the brush because you're close to it.

Been burnin' wood for 30 years and no probs - but I don't have two story.

 

I burned a CSL log at the end of the season... so that's out.

 

not sure what a CSL log is but my brother bought one of those presoaked things in a bag and VERY bad idea it did something to clog it all up & the smoke stayed inside !

 

buy dry seasoned firewood - split it, let it bake in the sun, keep it dry.

(up here its pine)

 

poplar & Fir is good !

 

Yeah, all I use is good seasoned wood. I think maybe my last fire wasn't hot enough. I'm going to wait for a cool night and burn 2 CSLs (Creosote Sweeping Logs) along with some dry sticks so I can get the fire hot and keep it hot, then try and put it out quickly. Hopefully that will let me tackle it with the brush and be done with it.