Does burning potato skins clean chimneys?

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asked Oct 16, 2019 in Maintenance/Repairs by kenacp (320 points)
Does burning potato skins clean chimneys?

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answered Oct 17, 2019 by Larry S (42,350 points)
Yes burning potato skins or potato peelings does help to clean chimneys of some of the creosote buildup by pushing layers of the creosote up and out of the chimney as they burn.

You can also burn an aluminum soda can once in awhile which also helps to clean the chimney of creosote as long as it's a little creosote.

You still need to do a chimney sweep cleaning though at least once per year to keep your chimney clean and free of creosote.

The most common cause of creosote buildup in a chimney is not burning the wood stove or fireplace hot enough to get the temperature up in the flu.

When the temperature of the flu is too cool and not hot enough then condensation can buildup in the chimney which leads to creosote.

Also burning wood that is not fully cured or seasoned such as green wood or wood that still contains some moisture can be a cause of creosote buildup in a chimney.

Chimney fires are caused by too much creosote buildup that then gets burnt and caught on fire from the heat and fire in the chimney.

You should make sure you burn the wood stove or fireplace hot enough to keep condensation and creosote from building up.

Also have your chimney swept every year before each burning season starts because it's best to have a clean chimney and it's cheaper than losing your life or losing your home to a house fire.

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