Chimney Sweeping Logs
The Question: Do These Really Work?
Lately I've seen two different brands of logs you can buy called "Chimney Sweeping Log" and "Supersweep" that supposedly clean your chimney. How can the logs I'm burning CAUSE creosote buildup in the flue, while these other logs are supposed to Remove it? What is so magical about these logs? Or do they even work? If so, is one better than the other
The Answer!
| "The Washington Public Fire Educators believe that the safest and most effective chimney maintenance is achieved through annual inspections and mechanical sweeping." |
It isn't really the logs that are supposed to do anything, it is the chemicals they're impregnated with, and chemical products that claim to clean or assist in cleaning chimneys are nothing new. In fact, there are actually some chemical products that are used by professional Chimney Sweeps in conjunction with mechanical cleanings. Specifically, in some extreme situations, a chimney can develop third-stage, glaze creosotethat is so hard that it cannot be removed by mechanical brushing alone. In these cases, certain liquid chemical catalysts may be sprayed directly onto the glaze to alter its chemical composition, turning it into a brittle or powdery condition so it can be swept out.
From what we've read and observed, the "Chimney Sweeping Log" and "Supersweep" products currently being marketed likely contain some sort of similar chemical catalyst. If they do, here's how they would work: the chemical would be carried up the flue by the rising exhaust gases, where it would deposit on the glaze in dry form and, over the course of several subsequent fires, break it down so it could be swept out.
The Overall Problem
We have a couple of problems with the marketing of these logs: first, their names are misleading. You might expect a product called The Chimney Sweeping Log or Supersweep to sweep your chimney, or at least perform an equivalent function. The actual claim in the fine print is that the chemical contained might reduce creosote by as much as 60%. Second, we have not found chemical catalysts to be of any use whatsoever on first- or second- stage creosote deposits, which comprise about 90% of the deposits we find in chimneys (glaze deposits are an extremely rare occurance). Third, even if your flue was coated with glaze creosote and the chemical in the chimney sweeping log broke it down as much as 60%, it would still represent a considerable safety hazard until it was physically removed by sweeping.
For easy reference, we can also be reached at:
503-CHIMNEY
503-244-6639
