01/27/2026
What Is Glazed Creosote... and Why Is It So Dangerous?
When wood is burned slowly, especially in cool chimneys or during overnight fires, creosote can condense into a sticky, shiny, tar-like layer known as glazed creosote.
Unlike the dry, flaky soot that brushes away easily, glazed creosote is:
-Extremely flammable
-Nearly impossible to remove without special tools or chemical treatment
-A major contributor to chimney fires every year
We find it most often in:
-Wood stoves or inserts running with the air closed down
-Chimneys on exterior walls
-Flues that haven’t been swept in multiple seasons
If we find glazed creosote during an inspection, we’ll show you with a camera and recommend a safe, code-compliant plan to remove it before lighting another fire.
Think your flue might be gummed up? We can check.