Colder temperatures are here to stay - but do you have the right firewood to burn?Green, or unseasoned, wood is hard to light and difficult to keep burning.Choose dry, seasoned wood for the best results and the ideal fire.
Creosote - the good bad and ugly. What is it - and how do I get it removed.Creosote is actually the condensation of flue gases and often the mixture of tar, creosote and ash. The creosote component is actually the hydro-carbons released from the wood during the burning process which were not consumed in the firebox. There are really five forms of creosote you can find however most only see one or two of them.The first, often called Stage one or Level one can be fairly easily removed with the proper tools. This is what dried creosote is when there is a fairly good combustion taking place and the pipes and chimney warm up enough to dry the condensed gases. In this type of creosote the fire did cause deposits, typically at start-up, however there was adequate air for adequate and speedy drying of the deposits. This is something a home owner or DIY person can do a fairly good job of if they take the time and are patient in their removal process although as they are only pushing and pulling up and down it may take then an hour or more to adequately clean the average chimney (those who think they are finished in one or two pushes up and down are often sadly mistaken).The second which is called Stage or Level two is a bit more tricky to remove the hard and shiny flakes. This is not nearly as easy to brush away but is still not terribly difficult with power rotary professional level sweeping equipment. This is very difficult to impossible to remove with the manual push brushes. To learn more visit our website:
Winter is on its way and if you have a wood stove or any heating system for that matter, it is time to ensure it has been properly maintained and is ready for the season ahead. it is important that any heating system be properly maintained and with a wood burning system that includes cleaning and inspections. Some think they can do the cleaning themselves, a few can, however of the ones we have seen that were self maintained the number who do it well are few. The vast majority of those who attempt it simply only do a half-hearted job or simply lack the understanding necessary to do it properly. Even worse some who claim to be chimney sweeps do not do it correctly either! Call a WETT Certified Chimney Sweep for that PEACE of MIND.
Having your chimney or fireplace inspected is great - but it doesn't help if you don't understand the findings!At RAW Chimney Sweep & Inspections, we're dedicated to educating our customers to ensure that you understand your inspection results, as well as any next steps.
