val741•7mo ago

A cracked flue showed me how to spot creosote by sound

Listening to the chimney when you tap it tells you everything about buildup. I caught a bad case before it could start a fire, and now I swear by this method.

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3 Comments

mason3877mo ago

Ever think about how the temperature outside changes the sound you hear? A cold chimney full of creosote makes a much duller thud than a warm one... I noticed mine sounded way more solid during a winter check, and that extra hint made all the difference. You get the hang of the normal sound in different weather. It just adds one more layer to be sure before you call for a cleaning. Might be overkill, but it saves me some worry.

1

terryb117mo ago

Guess heat expansion changes mason387's thud too.

5

perry.karen7mo ago

Wait, you're actually tapping on your chimney to listen? (I mean, I guess it makes sense after what terryb11 said about heat expansion.) I just stare at it and hope for the best, but now I'm worried I've been missing a whole sound-based clue system. That's a way more careful check than I've ever done.

4