10/08/2026
🔥 Not all chimney buildup is the same — here's what we're actually looking at 🔥
Photo 1: Here we see plain old soot removed during a thorough sweep! Soot is still a fire and blockage hazard if allowed to accumulate in your chimney, but it's easily removed with regular standard sweeping methods.
Photo 2: Those hard, shiny black flakes are creosote that's started hardening. This can be relatively easy to ignite and cause a chimney fire. It won't always brush off with traditional sweeping methods and may require mechanical rotary sweeping or professional chemical treatment.
Photo 3: Here we have dense, hard, shiny deposits — a type of tar glaze that's been baked onto the wall of the flue. These deposits contain a very high energy content, and if ignited will form an intense chimney fire. They're very difficult to remove by traditional or mechanical cleaning methods, and will likely require chemical treatment.
How much buildup you've got — and what stage it's at — comes down to things like wood moisture content, burn temperature, and airflow. Catching it early is what keeps your chimney safe and your sweeps quick and simple. As a Guild-registered sweep, we're happy to advise what's right for your setup — get in touch if you're due one.
