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Reading an old trade journal from 1982 changed my view on creosote buildup.
Everyone says a clean chimney has minimal creosote, but this article cited a study showing even a 1/8 inch layer can reduce draft efficiency by over 15%. I found it in a box of my dad's old papers. Has anyone else come across data that contradicts common practice?
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alicer534d ago
My grandpa's farmhouse chimney had that exact 1/8 inch buildup you read about. Draft got so weak it smoked back into the kitchen every time the wind shifted. I agree with wesleyflores that safety is key, but a weak draft is a safety issue too. We switched to drier wood and got a professional cleaning, and the difference was night and day. The fire just pulls better now, no more smoke in the house.
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wesleyflores4d ago
That old data sounds interesting but might not matter much now. Chimney liners and stove designs are way better than they were in the 80s. A tiny bit of creosote probably doesn't hurt draft the same way with modern setups. The common practice of just keeping it clean works fine for safety, which is the real goal anyway. Getting hung up on a small efficiency loss from a forty year old study misses the point.
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