Question About Creosote and ACS

[Dave in Mt Airy]

My chimney sweep said we have creosote glaze, level 3 I think he called it. Money is tight and I hesitated at the $400 quote to remove it so I purchased a bottle of ACS. My question is will this product turn the creosote to flake so a simple sweep will remove it and if so how long before I call them again? Or am I just avoiding the inevitably and I just need to suck it up and pay the man to remove the glaze? Or perhaps both, use the ACS then pay the $400?

I'm cheap but I'm not stupid and don't want to burn down the house.

 

[CheapBassTurd]

I'd certainly try it before prying open the checkbook.
At worst it should reduce service time/ labor hours.

CheapMark

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

Thanks. Do you have experience with this or similar products?

 

[Woody5506]

How long did you go before the last cleaning? Do you burn unseasoned wood? Do you trust the chimney sweep? I guess I'm just curious as to how you have that bad of a creosote issue or if it's possible he's giving you a run for your money.

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

How long did you go before the last cleaning? Do you burn unseasoned wood? Do you trust the chimney sweep? I guess I'm just curious as to how you have that bad of a creosote issue or if it's possible he's giving you a run for your money.

I did not burn pine or green wood but I am guilty of going years without a sweep, I used to burn a fire most nights Nov-March. So it is a buildup over time. Last sweep was 2 years ago, prior to that it was many years. The creosote was noted in that last sweep and we do smell a fireplace in the family room when the weather changes in spring, I'm told that is a sign of creosote..

Do I trust my chimney sweep? Not at all, I declined to pay to get it removed 2 years ago because it sounded like an upsell. But I am also aware of the danger so I'm trying to be smart here.

 

[kennyp2339]

Have you looked up the stack yourself? Also pine doesn't cause anymore creosote than any other wood, what makes pine dangerous to novices is that they will burn wet wood all season, run short and find some dry pine which will burn great but because it burns so good it will lite off the creosote buildup from there bad burning of wet wood. I love burning dry pine, especially during the fall and spring when I don't need as much btu fire power from my stove.

 

[Prof]

I did not burn pine or green wood but I am guilty of going years without a sweep, I used to burn a fire most nights Nov-March. So it is a buildup over time. Last sweep was 2 years ago, prior to that it was many years. The creosote was noted in that last sweep and we do smell a fireplace in the family room when the weather changes in spring, I'm told that is a sign of creosote..

Do I trust my chimney sweep? Not at all, I declined to pay to get it removed 2 years ago because it sounded like an upsell. But I am also aware of the danger so I'm trying to be smart here.

I don't want to derail the thread, but burning pine is OK as long as it is below 20% MC. I guess since you don't trust the sweep, I'd get a second opinion. I don't think there is any harm in trying ACS and seeing if it does what it claims to do. If you do have a glaze issue, this is a sign that something is not right in the burning process--in line with Woody's questions. Essentially the exhaust gases are too cool. After the chimney is cleaned, I'd check the moisture content of the wood, if you are not already doing this, and make sure flue temps stay hot enough by using either a probe or surface thermometer depending on the type of pipe you are using.

 

[Ctwoodtick]

One option is to get a second opinion. Be sure to get a csia certified sweep though.

 

[begreen]

Without seeing the problem we can't comment. It may be just a the cold top part or much more serious. Take a camera up there or cellphone and check it out. If serious, have a pro do it. Enter zipcode here: www.csia.org

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

Thanks everyone. I have looked up the flu and have seen the glaze clearly. As I said in the spring when the warm temps draw air down the chimney the house smells like a fireplace, but it only is for a few days. But I'm told that is a sign of buildup. Again I am guilty of burning a chord+ every winter and went years without a cleaning. So I'm pretty sure that's the cause. I don't burn wet wood, it does not burn well.

So I believe it's there, I am just wondering if anyone has experience with this product and if I can use it, then just get a regular sweep and not a $400 fix.

 

[begreen]

What kind of chimney - metal, masonry, liner?

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

The chimney is masonry. I have tried my best to take pics, that is no easy task when you are getting up in age. The chimney has a very strong smell of, well, chimney despite just being cleaned. Visible to me, but maybe not on these thumbnails, is a shiny glaze just as the chimney guy said.

 

[begreen]

The topside is bound to look much worse. I'd listen to the sweep.
Is this fireplace used as an open fireplace or is there a stove venting into it?

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

It's an open fireplace. There is no doubt in my mind it's there, the question I have to answer is can I correct the problem with this product and then just get a sweep?

 

[TheRambler]

You could always use the product and sweep it yourself. A brush or sooteater isnt all that expensive

 

[Dave in Mt Airy]

I was considering that but I'm not getting on a ladder and going to the top, I could only get the bottom part but I could use that area as a test.

 

[TheRambler]

You can clean it all from the bottom with a sooteater for example, you just need the right size tool(brush)

 

[CheapBassTurd]

My fine brush was 14 bucks. The medium was 8.99 Never even used the medium.
I don't know if there's room to connect fiberglass poles as ya go if hitting it from the bottom.

I'm thinking a few creosote logs and scrub that booger out.