Creosote behind chimney wall?

[Mike842]

I have a question for the group.

I have a wood burning fireplace that has a lot of glazed creosote that basic sweeping couldn’t cleanse. A inspection was done and they thought they could see some mortar cracks & holes but hard to tell with all the creosote. I have been given two conflicting opinions and am hoping someone can assist.

First opinion : do PCR to remove creosote then Heat Shield to essentially recoat the inside of the chimney to fill the mortar cracks & holes and reset to a perfect surface.

Second Opinion: Knock out the existing tiles and put in a stainless steel insulated liner which is about double the cost of option 1.

The second company claimed that creosote “could” be built up BEHIND the tiles (getting back there through the cracks). PCR cleaning won’t reach behind the tiles and they said when I have fires the creosote behind the tiles will still heat up (possibly catch on fire) through the heat shield. They were saying HeatShield wouldn’t fix the problem if there is creosote behind the tiles and there is no way to know for sure.

Is creosote behind the tiles a real possibility or are they scaring me into needing a stainless liner?

Mike

 

[begreen]

Option 2 will be more thorough resulting in better peace of mind.

Is this to keep the fireplace functional? Has the option of putting in an insert been discussed. An insert typically takes a smaller, less expensive, 6" liner and is much more efficient.

 

[Mike842]

Option 2 will be more thorough resulting in better peace of mind.

Is this to keep the fireplace functional? Has the option of putting in an insert been discussed. An insert typically takes a smaller, less expensive, 6" liner and is much more efficient.

Peace of mind is nice but also don’t want to waste the money if it isn’t necessary. What are your thoughts on the “behind the wall” comments that the 2nd company made?

Casually thought about an insert but it is my understanding by the time I bought an insert, ran a gas line, and put in an applicable liner, that I would be around the same cost….and I’d prefer to keep the “real fire”. I have a ventless in another room when we want the quick fire option!

 

[begreen]

Yes, creosote can ooze between cracks and missing mortar gaps.

I was thinking a wood burning insert, not gas.

 

[bholler]

Peace of mind is nice but also don’t want to waste the money if it isn’t necessary. What are your thoughts on the “behind the wall” comments that the 2nd company made?

Casually thought about an insert but it is my understanding by the time I bought an insert, ran a gas line, and put in an applicable liner, that I would be around the same cost….and I’d prefer to keep the “real fire”. I have a ventless in another room when we want the quick fire option!

Yes there is without question going to be creosote on the outside of the clay liners. Sometimes a whole lot

 

[Ctwoodtick]

Maybe knock out clay liners and have installed insulated liner for an open fireplace, if that is what you’d like. This costs a bit of dough, but it sounds like you have a lot of that glazed creosote and likely in back of the clay. I know it’s not my money I’m spending here, but that’s what I would do. You’ve mentioned enough for the reasonable folks on this forum to have some concern.