How to Clean Creosote from a Fireplace | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner remove stubborn creosote from a brick fireplace. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Fireplaces offer a lot of charm and utility, but they can be dangerous and an eyesore when they’re covered in creosote. Mason Mark McCullough helps a homeowner solve creosote issues with a simple process. Creosote is a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion, and it’s common in fireplaces. If the fires aren’t hot enough or the wood is wet, creosote can build upon the sides of chimneys and fireplaces. A little bit is normal, particularly the sooty, flaky stuff. However, if it’s shiny and oily, it can be very dangerous and cause a chimney fire. When a homeowner realized that her best efforts cleaning her own fireplace weren’t working, she called mason Mark McCullough for help. Where to find it? Mark recommends wearing eye protection [https://ift.tt/l5otgXA], gloves [https://ift.tt/UDOI6nW], a respirator mask [https://ift.tt/FyQe2Bo] and opening the windows whenever disturbing creosote. Results may vary depending on the amount and age of creosote buildup. To get started use a metal putty knife [https://ift.tt/amZv0lI] to chip away as much of the stage 2 creosote as possible. Stage 2 creosote can be identified by its flaky texture. Next use a handheld grinder with a wire wheel brush [https://ift.tt/tzUSZAT] and rust stripper attachments to continue to remove Stage 2 as well as Stage 3. Mark advises to start with the wire wheel brush to take off the more stubborn wax-like build up, which is Stage 3. To remove the remaining creosote, Mark recommends saturating the brick with water using a scrub brush [https://ift.tt/amZv0lI]. Apply brick and stone cleaner [https://ift.tt/1LGgNHI] of your choice. (Follow product instructions for application). Rinse the treat area with scrub brush and repeat until satisfied with the results. All supplies are available at your local home store. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials: Brick and stone cleaner [https://ift.tt/1LGgNHI] Tools: Respirator mask [https://ift.tt/FyQe2Bo] Safety glasses [https://ift.tt/l5otgXA] Gloves [https://ift.tt/UDOI6nW] Putty knife [https://ift.tt/0qmDt83] Grinder with a wire wheel [https://ift.tt/tzUSZAT] Drill with an abrasive blade [https://ift.tt/eyuTIjS] Wet/dry vac with HEPA filter [https://ift.tt/0TobFG3] Stiff-bristled brush [https://ift.tt/amZv0lI] Bucket [https://ift.tt/KECQlPI] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/I9cMWbO About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How to Clean Creosote from a Fireplace | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/