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Learned a hard lesson about creosote buildup at a cabin in the Smokies
Last fall I got called out to a rental cabin near Gatlinburg where the guests said smoke was backing up into the living room. Turns out the previous sweep had skipped a flue tile section near the top (probably just lazy or in a hurry) and there was a thick layer of glazed creosote blocking about half the draft. I had to spend an extra hour with a rotary tool to chip it out, and the owner was not happy about the extra cost. Has anyone else found glazed creosote hiding in spots that look clean from below?
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mason4993d ago
A lot of chimney sweeps skip that top flue tile section. I bet that glazed creosote was hiding right where you'd never see it from below. That rotary tool is a lifesaver but yeah the extra time sucks.
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murray.cole2d ago
Respectfully, I see it a little different. Most guys I know don't skip that top section on purpose, they just rush through the cleaning because they're trying to finish a job fast. I've found glazed creosote hiding in the smoke shelf area too, not just near the top. A good flashlight and mirror check from the roof catches that stuff before it turns into a problem.
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