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Chimney Sweep and Flue Venting Page

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Chimney Fires and Creosote

Fireplaces and woodstoves are designed to safely contain wood-fuel fires, while providing heat
for a home.  The chimneys that serve them have the job of expelling the by-products of combustion.

The substances produced when wood burns. These include smoke, water vapor, gases  unburned wood
Particles, Volatile Hydrocarbons, Tar Fog and assorted minerals.  As these substances exit the fireplace
or Woodstove and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, condensation occurs.  The resulting
residue that sticks to the inner wall of the chimney is called creosote.

Creosote is black or brown in appearance.  It can be crusty and flaky, tar like, drippy and sticky or
shiny hardened.  Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system.  Whatever form in takes, creosote
is highly combustible.  If it build up in sufficient quantities and catches fire inside the chimney flue in-
side the chimney flue instead of the firebox of the fireplace of the fireplace or woodstove.  The result
will be a chimney fire.  Although any amount of creosote can burn, sweeps are concerned when creosote builds up
in sufficient quantities to sustain a long, hot, destructive chimney fire.

*The Chimney Safety of American, INC, excerpt from brochure "the facts about chimney fires: causes
and cures;" Brochure #8; Plainfield, IN; CSIA;  copyright 2002

 What is a Certified Chimney Sweep?

What a Homeowner Should Know

The chimney service trade is not regulated, nor are chimney sweeps licensed in most states. Further, opening a chimney service business requires a relatively small capital investment. Thus, virtually anyone - without education, training , experience or even a working knowledge of proper tools or equipment can become a chimney sweep. As a result, many ill-equipped, ill-prepared individuals are free to offer their "services" to homeowners. in some cases, these individuals will take advantage of learning opportunities and become competent, qualified sweeps. In other cases, they will continue along the same path they started on, offering incompetent service and, in some cases providing trusting homeowners with a false sense of well-being. For this very reason, a number of states are currently considering license requirements for chimney sweeps. As precursors to state licensing, some municipalities currently license chimney sweeps and in most of those, the criteria for licensing is the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep^tm credential.