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The difference in creosote buildup I saw after a customer switched from green wood
I cleaned a chimney in Springfield last fall and it was a solid quarter-inch of glazed creosote all the way up. The homeowner had been burning unseasoned oak. Went back for an inspection this week, six months after they switched to properly dried hardwood, and the buildup was less than an eighth of an inch and mostly just fluffy soot. It made the whole job twice as fast and way less messy. Has anyone else seen such a clear change just from a fuel switch?
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nora_wood432mo ago
A quarter inch of glazed creosote is a serious fire hazard, that's wild. I've seen bad buildup but that's a whole different level from green oak. The fact it went down to mostly soot after just one season of dry wood really shows how much fuel matters.
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willowroberts2mo ago
Yeah, it's basically like running your stove on slow-cooked tar.
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beth_baker692mo ago
Exactly, the wood moisture content makes a huge difference. Burning green wood creates a lot more smoke and that acidic vapor condenses into that hard, shiny creosote. Switching to properly seasoned wood gives a hotter, cleaner burn. It's amazing how much safer and more efficient the whole system runs with good fuel.
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