ACS Anti-Creo-Soot - Liquid Creosote Remover for Chimneys - 32 oz Soot Cleaning Solution

It's rare that I will take time to write a review here....but this is worth the money for the problem it has solved so far. I have an older woodstove that doesn't have a catalytic burner and use the relatively low-quality firewood thats available locally. I run the stove almost every day during the winter. I've already had a chimney fire that fortunately didnt do any damage, but makes me a little neurotic. I clean the flu frequently, sometimes every couple of weeks for peace of mind. My biggest concern is the gradually increasing amount of Type 3 creosote which is the hard glassy type that clings to the walls...and isn't easily removed with the poly brush which is required for use in the stainless steel triple wall section that goes through the roof. A stiff wire brush would probably solve my problem in the short term but it causes scratches in the liner that creates a place for more and more creosote to accumulate. I've used this product heavily for the past week...as in almost the whole 32 oz bottle. Expensive, yes. I've cleaned the flu enough times that I can kind of "feel" how dirty it is based on resistance and how the brush sounds (crunchy vs smooth) as it passes along the sidewalls. It definitely "felt" cleaner today and the real evidence was that there was far less creosote than expected in the firebox when I was done. I also noticed when looking up at the chimney cap that the vent holes weren't as clogged as they usually are at this point (and which is usually indicated by a small amount of smoke backing into the house when I open the door to the firebox.) I haven't been able to get up on the roof for a close-up inspection yet. I will say that if you have existing stubborn creosote then plan to use a lot more than the maintenance dose of 10 sprays every third fire until you have been using for awhile. The directions also say this. I start a relatively small but hot fire and then DOUSE the wood with this stuff and spray up into the flu itself. I mean 40-50 sprays, and let it flame back up. This is the best time because the flu gases arent moving as fast and can swirl and stick to the sidewalls to do their work. And then I would do the same again after the fire had been cooking for awhile...probably less effective. Also, clean your chimney well before using this so it isn't wasted...the surface crust has to be removed so the stubborn stuff is exposed and the vapors can soak in.

Let me start off by saying, I don't think I've ever written an Amazon review. However, this product really surprised me and worked so well that I want to share my experience to hopefully help and save someone else money. I am incredibly pleased by this spray and highly recommend to anyone who burns firewood. I had a "third-degree" creosote problem where the creosote was not sweep able - it was thin tar like layer (first picture). I figured I was going to have to get professionals to take care of it, but decided to give this product a try. Following the instructions, I sprayed this product on almost every fire I had from January 2023- March 2023. I used the entire spray bottle in this time period. When I checked my chimney in the Spring, I couldn't believe how well this stuff worked. It caused the creosote to harden and start to crumble off of the terracotta. I can't tell you how soon it started to work, but my build up was pretty bad so I assume it took at least 20-30 fires to get it to a sweepable condition. I finally got around to sweeping it this October 2023 (the chimney sat all summer unused and unswept). It swept pretty darn well for the condition it was in last January. It's not perfect, there is still some areas of a creosote coating at the top ~8' of my chimney, which is what the 2nd picture shows. I am going to get a second bottle of this and will continue to spray on every fire and try to sweep in a month after burning fires. Even once I get my chimney completely clean, I most certainly plan to continue to use this spray as a preventative. I can't recommend this stuff enough. I think it will really help keeping the chimney clean and safe.

We have a wood-burning fireplace that heats the house and we burn through a lot of wood in the winter. And Wisconsin winters are no joke! We were about 6 weeks into winter when we started noticing a lot of smoke pouring into the house every time we would open the glass fireplace door to put more wood in. After our carbon monoxide detector went off at 1 in the morning and a nice chat with our local firemen (thank you for your service!), we determined the cause of the issue was due to a creosol buildup in our chimney causing all sorts of dangerous gases to escape into the house. They advised we needed to get a fireplace inspection and hopefully the simple solution was the chimney needed a good sweep! Oh, and it did! We apparently weren't getting a good hot burn to help reduce creosol buildup and it might have been because our wood wasn't seasoned enough. Enter the Anti-Creo-Soot Liquid. A couple sprays from this bad boy every time we have a fire, and our fireplace glass is finally clear so we can SEE the fire burning. I'm amazed how this has actually helped reduce the creosol bulidup. I'm also very interested to hear from the fireplace technician during our next inspection if he notices a difference. I'm told you should always be using good, dry wood in your fireplace, BUT this will help reduce creosol buildup as a general maintenance or if you aren't using quality wood. I've only been using it for half the season, but I'm already impressed by what I'm seeing. It's definitely something I want to keep on hand. I bought 2 bottles and would recommend this product to anyone who has a fireplace.

Really helped bust up the creosote build up in my chimney. Had to get a sprayer for just this product is only reason i gave 4 stars.

Edit : 11-16-2021 for some reason Amazon only put up 4.5 stars and I gave it 5 I heat 95% with wood . I use a wood furnace . In 2018 I bough the Creosote remover . Used it some off and and on . Noticed in like 2019 that some of the glaze in the fire tile chimney was starting to go away not much but some ... and the build up was not think . Like a good coat of hi gloss black paint . This last season - 2020- 2021 winter . I used more of it . - I think about 3/4 a gallon for the season. I put it directly on the hot coals or on the hot fire brick and it steams as soon as I shoot it on . I use a spray bottle . I just cleaned the chimney yesterday . Had to get on the roof and so I looked down the chimney . 95% of that glaze IS GONE I mean GONE . I can see more of the tile liner now that I have for a decade . I live in the house I grew up in . Built in 68 . Did did not heat with much wood BUT there was some used over the years so do the math . Another thing .. this year when I ran the brush up the flue .... I didn't seem to notice as much ashes falling as the other years and I burned just as much last year as I have in the past . I think using more of the Creosote liquid that the chimney ash drys and breaks off and falls .. don't know didn't look in the chimney before I ran the brush . For me the 50 bucks a year for a gallon is good insurance . Thanks I highly recommend this stuff

I have been buying this product since 2016 and its the only to use weekly for "insurance " against a chimney fire. I chimney sweep yearly and burn around 16 cords a year of mostly hard woods - Beech, maple, ash, elm and oak species with some soft woods like seasoned pine. I have 26' chimney run with one S. At season's end, I get about 1/3 of a 5 gallon bucket of fine carbon (almost like carbon black powder). Product gets ***** 5 stars Shipping gets *** 3 stars Customer resolution with company gets ***** 5 stars. My only complaint was the company need to be sure to tape cap prior to shipping as if it loosens in transit, and the Product is hit with a larger package (UPS THROW TEST), the bottle will leak and arrive with a mess upon opening and you will loose some Product. I'm happy to hear that they implemented this approach to taping up the cap. Customer service handled the matter well. I will keep on buying it. Please try to slow down on price increases! ;) Thanks for making a great product.

Great product.....delivery too slow

Works great I burn every day in December and January and this keeps you at a stage 2 “dry” creosote level so no chimney fires. I was having to sweep mid winter before using this product it works great. Spray directly on fire .

It works well,will reorder it again

Worked well at getting rid of the Creosote