I have been informed by a chimney sweep/inspector that I hired to clean out and inspect my chimney that I have a good bit of creosote in there from the former owner. I am getting ready to buy and install an insert. He said that he is going to charge me a bunch of money to clean it out and do a couple of things up there. Then he said that none of it is necessary if I buy a woodburning insert because placing a liner in there is going to circumvent any issues with the creosote, etc.... Then he proceeded to try to sell me a woodburning insert and install right then and there. Obviously I hadn't told him I was already getting ready to buy an insert.
Is there any truth to the fact that I can just leave that creosote and install the liner and have no problems?
Is there any truth to the fact that I can just leave that creosote and install the liner and have no problems?