Creosote build up!

**Trent Tarter** · 03-30-2014, 11:24 PM

This is some serious creosote build up, a chimney fire just waiting to happen. I would guess that some of this flue pipe may need to be replaced.

Bo Tasso · 03-31-2014, 02:53 AM

From the looks of it, it already had a chimney fire. The expanded/puffy creosote is consistent with a chimney fire.

A sweep and scan should be recommended along with a Level II inspection of the system.

It is hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the chimney might be an air cooled chimney and not be an HT type chimney that should be used for what I assume is some type of wood stove.

**Bob Harper** · 03-31-2014, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Bo Tasso

From the looks of it, it already had a chimney fire. The expanded/puffy creosote is consistent with a chimney fire.

A sweep and scan should be recommended along with a Level II inspection of the system.

It is hard to tell from the picture but it looks like the chimney might be an air cooled chimney and not be an HT type chimney that should be used for what I assume is some type of wood stove.

I would tend to agree with Bo but add that rain cap may not be the listed termination with that chimney system. Regardless, you ain't gonna remove 3rd degree glaze from a factory chimney without damage, which I suspect there is still some in there. Level II, pics as is, swab it, scope it, then replace the chimney. If confirm signs of an unfriendly fire, then it is an insurable loss. Most mfrs. will require replacement of chimney if signs/ symptoms of a chimney fire.

Air cooled chimneys run too cool for modern woodstoves even if properly sized.

This can not happen if the homeowner is burning properly and maintaining the system properly even if a POS stove into an air cooled chimney. BTW, most air cooled chimneys are rated 1,700F and therefore not suitable for woodstoves, which require 2,100F chimneys.