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That stat about creosote at 1/8 inch surprised me
I was reading the NFPA 211 guide last week and found out that creosote buildup just 1/8 inch thick causes something like 90% of chimney fires. I always thought you needed a thick layer before it got dangerous, but that stat from the Chimney Safety Institute of America really changed my view. Been recommending more frequent inspections to customers in Cleveland since then. Has anyone else seen numbers that made you rethink your routine?
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charles6409d ago
Oh man, that 1/8 inch stat blew my mind too! I used to just eyeball it and figure a little bit of black stuff was no big deal, but after I read that I started cleaning the chimney way more often. It's crazy how such a thin layer can cause that much trouble.
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james_bell9d ago
Charles640, you hit on something I don't think anybody's brought up yet: the fact that this 1/8 inch rule applies differently depending on what kind of wood you're burning. I burn mostly oak and hickory, and that stuff creates a way fluffier, more powdery creosote compared to the hard, shiny glaze you get from pine. The powdery stuff seems to need cleaning way more often because it builds up faster and clogs things up quicker. Something to keep an eye on if you're mixing wood types like I do.
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