Creosote Removal in Houston, TX

Creosote is a highly flammable, tar-like residue made of unburned wood byproducts that builds up inside your chimney flue every time you burn a fire. Left alone, it coats the flue walls and becomes harder to remove over time.

Stage 1 is a light, flaky soot that brushes away during a standard chimney sweep. Stage 2 is a harder, more textured buildup that takes extra brushing to remove. Stage 3 is a shiny, hardened glaze that is baked onto the flue walls and requires specialized mechanical and chemical removal.

Creosote is the number one cause of chimney fires. It is highly flammable, and heavy buildup can also restrict airflow, causing smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into your home instead of venting outside.

Glazed stage 2 and stage 3 creosote will not come off with a standard brush. We use rotary power tools and chains to mechanically break up the hardened deposits, then apply a chemical creosote modifier to soften what remains before a final cleaning pass.

A standard chimney sweep uses a brush to remove loose, stage 1 soot. Creosote removal is a more intensive service for hardened, glazed creosote that a brush alone cannot remove, using mechanical tools and a chemical modifier to safely strip it from the flue.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) recommends an annual chimney inspection. If you use your fireplace more than once a week, have it checked and cleaned before each heating season to catch creosote buildup before it glazes.