8
PSA: Creosote log math doesn't add up at high altitudes
I was reading the National Fire Protection Association's chimney stats last week and found that chimney fires are 30% more likely above 5,000 feet, somewhere like Denver. Those 'creosote sweeping logs' only reduce buildup by 40%, not the 99% the box implies, and at altitude that number gets worse. I ran a test on my own flue after a 3-month winter in Boulder and the deposit layer was still a quarter inch thick. Anyone else notice the label fine print skipping altitude disclaimers?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
angelaellis25d ago
The NFPA stat is probably about all chimney fires, not just ones tied to creosote logs, so the 30% thing might be pulling double duty. That 40% reduction number also usually comes from lab tests with ideal burning conditions, which nobody hits in real life. Boulder's dry air and those cold snaps make for a slower, cooler burn that cakes everything on worse. A quarter inch sounds about right for skipping a proper clean. The real fix is just getting a brush up there more often, especially if you're burning a lot of pine.
6