What Exactly is Chimney Glaze and Why Is It Important to Learn About?

1. What Exactly is Chimney Glaze and Why Is It Important to Learn About? A fireplace is a warm and welcome addition to most homes, especially during the winter months. They can take some of the strain off your HVAC system and they can create an ambience that simply cannot be reproduced any other way. However, your chimney also comes with responsibilities, such as keeping it clean and scheduling regular chimney inspections to prevent things like glaze. Below, you will learn more about glaze and the importance of keeping it at bay. Understanding Creosote Creosote is a highly flammable substance created during combustion that tends to stick to the sides of your chimney flue as it travels upward. There are three levels of creosote buildup. Level 1 –At this level, creosote is powdery and sooty, which means it can be easily removed by a typical brush during your regular chimney sweeping. Level 2 –As the creosote builds up, it turns into black flakes that are more difficult to remove. Technicians must use drills and other power tools to ensure proper removal. Level 3 –Level three creosote buildup, also known as chimney glaze, is especially difficult to remove – and especially dangerous. At this point, the flakes have become thick and hardened into a substance very much like tar. It takes a great deal of time and effort to remove glaze, and in some cases, it may even be best to replace your chimney liner. What Is Glaze? Chimney glaze, or level three creosote buildup, is incredibly dangerous. All creosote is flammable, but when it is in its powdery form, it is far less likely to ignite under normal conditions. Glaze, on the other hand, can ignite easily – particularly since the tarry substance can begin to drip down from your chimney flue much like icicles. As it heats up, it becomes more fluid, which can cause a fire to spread quickly. Preventing Chimney Glaze Glaze is primarily caused by a failure to clean your chimney regularly, so this is the best step you can take to prevent it. There are also a few tips to keep in mind to keep creosote buildup low with each fire you light. Don’t burn low, smoldering fires. Though it may seem counterintuitive, these smaller fires create more of the dangerous combustion byproduct. Burn only seasoned firewood. Unseasoned wood releases far more gases when burned, and this causes creosote to build up and glaze more quickly. Don’t burn packaged wood. Though some of these products claim to clean creosote, they create more. Burn only seasoned firewood in your chimney. Make sure your fire has plenty of air. A choked fire smolders more than one with plenty of air, and this smoldering causes more combustion gas to head through your chimney. Insulate your chimney well.Finally, it’s important to make certain that chimneys built onto the outside of your home are insulated. Cold flues tend to hold on to more creosote than warm ones. Chimney glaze is a dangerous problem that is difficult to remedy with a standard cleaning. Be sure that you have your chimney cleaned and inspected regularly to keep you and your family safe, and follow the tips for preventing chimney glaze above to keep buildup to a minimum, as well.