Can I Use Burning Rock Salt to Clean Chimney Creosote?

Keeping your chimney clean is a must if you wish to stay safe all year long. However, is it safe to use burning rock salt to clean chimney creosote? Find out the answer to this question by keeping on reading this blog! Additionally, we’ll also give you some tips for keeping your chimney in top shape for the years to come!

Steps on Using Burning Rock Salt to Clean Chimney Creosote

Chimneys are the real lifesavers when it comes to cold winters.

However, if you’re using the wrong wood or not cleaning it often enough, then it’s bound to have buildups of creosote in their stove pipes. And, if you’re looking to stay away from any signs of chimney fires, then you must make sure that it’s always clean.

That’s why many homeowners look for easy and affordable ways of removing glazed creosote from their chimneys. Among these methods, we have sodium chloride.

Long story short, you can use burning rock salt to clean chimney creosote. By pouring a bit of salt into your fireplace while you’re using it, you’ll be able to dissolve small amounts of creosote buildups. This phenomenon happens because the salt combines with the water in the burning wood.

Nevertheless, keep in mind not to use this method for your chimney’s maintenance. If you have more than a year without cleaning your chimney, please contact a professional for a sweep.

Additionally, you’ll want to avoid using salt for metal chimneys since the acid obtained from the solution can rust and even corrode them.

These are the steps to follow when using salt to remove tarry creosote from your chimney:

• Choose the right firewood.
• Be sure to prepare your fireplace correctly.
• Light up the fire.
• Put a little salt into the hot fire.

Choose the Right Firewood

As we said before, using the right firewood is vital if you wish to avoid any chimney fires. One type of wood you should definitely opt for is kiln-dried firewood.

Be Sure to Prepare Properly Your Fireplace

After choosing the right firewood for your place, you must now arrange the logs accordingly. Moreover, be sure to release the damper and use a primer to prepare the flu. Also, make sure that there are no ashes from the previous session you used the chimney.

Make sure to make any preparations necessary to always ensure safety during this process.

Light up the Fire

After successfully preparing your chimney and fireplace, it’s time to start the fire. You can place balls of newspaper if you wish to get a stronger fire. Moreover, you can add kindling to the bottom of your fireplace to light it up.

When starting your fire, make sure to always keep it small. That way, it’ll generate less smoke and produce even less creosote buildup.

Put a Little Salt into the Hot Fire

Finally, you should now pour a bit of salt into the fire. Since the burning wood creates water, its combination with the salt will travel up the chimney and dissolve the small coal-tar organic compounds. As a result, you’ll remove creosote successfully.

After following these steps on using burning rock salt to clean chimney grease, it’s time for you to implement them!

If you ever need professional advice on this subject, or you’re looking for experts that’ll handle your chimney sweeps, be sure to contact EA Chimney and Roofing. We count on the latest equipment for the job, including high-end chimney brushes and vacuums.

You can also create a rock salt paste if you don’t wish to apply the salt directly to the fire. For this paste, you’ll need to get two additional ingredients: soap and tap water.

First, mix the salt and soap. Next, gradually add the tap water until you get a creamy texture or consistency. Feel free to add more water or salt to achieve the desired density.

After achieving the ideal paste, go to your chimney and apply it to the bricks on your fireplace using a thick cloth. Leave it to rest for about 10 minutes and then remove it once it’s dried. You can use a stiff-bristle brush to remove it.

Will Rock Salt Put Out a Fire?

Moreover, along with using a bit of sodium chloride to clean your chimney, you can also use it to extinguish a fire. Salt itself doesn’t burn, that’s why it can put out a fire.

Nevertheless, you must know that you’ll need a lot of salt to smother the flame. So, it’s not the safest nor the most efficient way to put out your fireplace.

What Are Some Other Alternatives to Clean Creosote Deposits?

If you’re not too keen on using salt to remove any creosote your chimney might have, there are other alternatives you can go for.

For instance, you can use a creosote removing substance that’ll help you get rid of it. When getting this product, be sure to go for the powder form rather than liquid presentation as it’s more effective.

Moreover, this method will require you a bit of your time since it needs to soften and flake the tarry substance. After the creosote is soft enough, you can use a vacuum or a brush to remove it.

Keep in mind that removing creosote can be a time-consuming process. Moreover, you can damage your chimney liner if you’re not careful.

That’s why we recommend that you opt for professional chimney sweeping and cleaning. After all, you should be getting this service at least once a year if you wish to avoid chimney fires. Additionally, professional sweeping is among the top care tips for your chimney.

Prevent the Buildup of Creosote by Following These Tips

Lastly, it’s essential that you know how to avoid creosote buildup. As a result, your fireplace and chimney remain safe to use during the winter.

A good rule of thumb to prevent this buildup is by using only kiln-dried or fire-seasoned firewood.

Also, avoid neglecting your chimney. Be sure to stay on top of your annual chimney inspections and cleaning. Professional inspections will not only help know when it’s time to clean it, but it will also tell you if the chimney needs to be repaired.

After following these steps on using burning rock salt to clean chimney grease, it’s time for you to implement them!

If you ever need professional advice on this subject, or you’re looking for experts that’ll handle your chimney sweeps, be sure to contact EA Chimney and Roofing. We count on the latest equipment for the job, including high-end chimney brushes and vacuums.