Had a chat with an old timer about creosote buildup that changed my approach

I ran into a fellow sweep at the hardware store last Tuesday morning. He must be pushing 70, been doing this since the 70s. He said he never uses those chemical creosote logs anymore. Told me he just focuses on getting the flue temperature right during the first burn of the season. Something about how the chemicals can actually leave a residue that makes the next layer stick worse. I had been relying on those logs for 15 years. Made me think about how I approach my cleanings. Has anyone else heard this or had experience dropping the chemical treatments?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix4887d ago

Yeah the "residue makes the next layer stick worse" thing is spot on. I tried those logs for a couple years and noticed my flues actually got harder to scrape clean. The chemicals do something to the creosote that makes it more gummy and less flaky. Once I stopped using them and just focused on hot burns to start the season my cleanings got way easier. That old timer probably saved you a lot of frustration down the road. He's been doing this long enough to know what actually works versus what gets marketed.

riley5956d ago

Respectfully I see it a little different. I used those logs for a few winters and honestly my flues stayed cleaner than before. Maybe it depends on what kind of wood you're burning or how often you run your stove, but for me the creosote came off way easier after using them. I still do hot burns too, but I think the logs helped break down the hard stuff that hot fires alone couldn't touch. Not saying they're perfect for everyone, but idk, they worked okay in my setup.