Lancaster PA Chimney Sweep Services | The Way to a Safer & More Efficient Chimney

Name: Anderson's Chimney & Masonry Service
Address: 207 Walnut Alley, New Cumberland, PA, 17070, US
Telephone: (717) 975-3526

In addition to being flammable, creosote is very acidic and over time can damage your chimney liner. Deterioration and cracks in a liner will allow intense heat, flames, smoke and deadly combustion gases to escape.

There’s no way to avoid creating some creosote every time you use your wood-burning fireplace, but there are ways to reduce the amount:

Burn only dry wood, which makes less smoke than green, damp wood.
Make sure plenty of air is getting to the firebox for complete, robust fires that create minimal smoke.
Keep the chimney free of obstructions (see below) that hinder drafting and hold smoke in the flue for longer periods.
Never burn furniture pieces, clothing, plastics, metals or anything other than actual firewood to keep smoke to a minimum.

Remove Drafting Obstructions

Another important reason for chimney cleaning is to remove obstructions, which can cause smoke and carbon monoxide to filter into your living spaces. Common obstructions include:

Leaves and twigs from nearby trees
Nests built by birds, squirrels and other small animals
Excess creosote and soot
The occasional dead animal

If you have a quality chimney cap, top-mount damper or chimney chase cover, this stuff won’t get into your chimney in the first place. It’s never safe to operate your chimney without a secure protective top component.

National Standards

As certified sweeps, we are held to national standards of the NFPA. NFPA 211 for wood burning, NFPA 54 for gas appliances and NFPA 31 for oil appliances. All of our work is always conducted professionally and in compliance with these and any other local government codes that apply. Our professional opinions will be based on our experience and education.