FC2500 Furnace Installation and Operation Manual
10.2Chimney maintenance Wood smoke can condense inside the chimney connector and chimney, forming a combustible deposit called creosote. If creosote is allowed to build up in the venting system, it can ignite when a hot fire is burned in the furnace and a very hot fire can progress to the top of the chimney. Severe chimney fires can damage even the best chimneys. Smouldering, smoky fires can quickly cause a thick layer of creosote to form. Avoid smouldering so the exhaust from the chimney is mostly clear, creosote builds up more slowly. Your new furnace has the right characteristics to help you to burn clean fires with little or no smoke, resulting in less creosote in the chimney. 10.2.1 Cleaning Frequency It is not possible to predict how much or how quickly creosote will form in your chimney. It is important, therefore, to check the build-up in the chimney monthly until you determine the rate of creosote formation. Even if creosote forms slowly in your system, the chimney should be cleaned and inspected at least once each year. Contact your local municipal or provincial fire authority for information on how to handle a chimney fire. Have a clearly understood plan to handle a chimney fire. 10.2.2 Cleaning the chimney Chimney sweeping can be a difficult and dangerous job. People with no chimney sweeping experience will often prefer to hire a professional chimney sweep to inspect and clean the system for the first time. After seeing the cleaning process, some will choose to do it themselves. The most common equipment used are fiberglass rods with threaded fittings and stiff plastic brushes. The brush is forced up and down inside the chimney flue to scrub off the creosote.
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