TIL that cold water rinsing after a class A fire actually made the creosote worse

I had a chimney fire call over in Medford last October. After I knocked it down I rinsed the flue with cold water like I always do. Next inspection I found this thick tar-like buildup that wasn't there before. Learned the hard way that hot water mixed with trisodium phosphate works way better for breaking down creosote after a burn. Has anyone else run into this problem with cold rinses?

3 comments

3 Comments

shanef349d ago

Man I used to be the opposite on this. I always thought cold water was fine because it wouldn't burn my hands or anything, but you're making me rethink that. I had a similar situation last winter on a chimney job out near Grants Pass. Used cold water like I usually do and came back a month later to find that same nasty tar situation you're describing. Switched to hot water with TSP after that and it made a huge difference. Good to know I wasn't the only one learning this the hard way.

murphy.tessa9d ago

TSP is seriously underrated for that kind of mess.

angelarivera8d ago

My first chimney fire call was over near Eagle Point about two years ago and I made the exact same mistake with cold water. I remember standing there with the hose thinking "this is fine, it's just water" and then the next time I did a sweep it was like scraping asphalt off the flue. TSP with hot water is a game changer though, I started mixing it in a pump sprayer and that hot chemical mix just cuts through the creosote like nothing else. It's weird how something as simple as water temperature can make or break the whole job.