That chimney fire call last Saturday shook me up

I was out in Elgin on a routine cleaning when I got called to a house fire about two blocks over. The homeowner said they'd been burning unseasoned pine all winter and the creosote buildup was almost an inch thick in spots. The fire chief told me after that the liner was a total loss, and it made me realize I need to be way more upfront with customers about what wood they should burn. Has anyone else had a close call like that change how you talk to clients?

2 comments

2 Comments

sage_park67d ago

Wait, an inch of creosote? That is insane. I've seen half-inch buildup before and that alone felt like a death wish, but a full inch sounds like the inside of that pipe was basically a solid log of fuel. That liner must have been glowing red before it even caught fire.

oscarh166d ago

Honestly @sage_park6, was the liner glowing red or just giving off a nice warm campfire vibe? Tbh that chimney was basically auditioning for a fireworks show.