Our Process
How glazed creosote is removed in Sanlando Springs
Assessing the deposit before choosing a method
Removal starts with a close look. The deposit's form, thickness and extent, the liner material, access from the top and bottom and the appliance connected to the flue all shape the method. A glaze confined to the upper flue is a different job from buildup that runs through the smoke chamber.
Our specialists record those details at the free inspection and explain them in plain terms. The estimate names the method, the likely number of visits and the follow-up sweep, so you know what the removal involves before you approve it.
After a chimney fire
If a chimney fire starts, get everyone out first and dial 911 once you are outside. Nobody should stay in to fight it or check on it.
Once the fire department has cleared the home, keep the fireplace unused. DuraVent's liner instructions say that before a chimney is used after a fire, it must be inspected by a qualified person and cleaned or repaired as necessary. Our team then inspects the flue, removes remaining creosote and explains any repair it needs. Nothing about the flue is assumed safe until that inspection is done.
Removal day at your chimney
On the day, the room and roof are protected first and the fireplace opening is sealed. The product is mixed and applied to the flue, or the mechanical work is done, and the chimney is left to dry or cool as the method requires. Nothing goes into the flue until the protection is in place, and you are told how long each stage will take.
A follow-up visit clears the loosened deposit, sweeps the flue and inspects the liner. We walk you through what came out, what the flue looks like now and whether the fireplace is ready to use.
No test fire before the inspection
It is tempting to light a small fire to see whether the chimney draws. With glazed creosote in the flue, that adds heat to a deposit EPA describes as highly combustible. If the damper is stuck or the smoke chamber is crusted, a test fire can also push smoke back into the room instead of up the flue.
Leave the fireplace cold until the flue has been inspected. The free inspection in Sanlando Springs tells you whether the chimney can be used as it is, needs a sweep or needs creosote removal first, and you get that answer in writing.
