For homeowners across Lake Oswego, Portland, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, and the surrounding metro areas, few chimney issues cause more confusion or more risk than creosote.
Walk into any hardware store in Oregon, and you’ll hear advice from every direction:
“Burn hotter.”
“Keep the damper halfway closed.”
“Use these logs, they’ll clean your chimney.”
“It’s because of the weather here.”
“Creosote isn’t that dangerous.”
Most of what homeowners believe about creosote is wrong, and some of the misinformation circulating online can actually increase the risk of a chimney fire.
As the most experienced chimney sweep specialist in the Portland area, Metro Chimney PDX has spent decades correcting misunderstandings and preventing serious damage before it happens.
Today, we’re clearing up the biggest myths Oregon homeowners still believe about creosote, and explaining what actually causes buildup according to real chimney science and proven field experience.
MYTH #1: “Creosote forms because of Oregon’s damp climate.”
Truth: Creosote forms in every chimney everywhere because of the wood, not the weather.
This myth has spread so widely online that nearly every homeowner in Oregon has heard it. But it’s completely false.
Creosote has nothing to do with humidity, rain, wet seasons, or living near the coast.
It is created inside the wood itself.
Creosote forms from:
- Moisture in the wood
- Natural sap
- Oils and resins
- Organic compounds released during combustion
No matter where a fireplace is located Portland, Bend, Phoenix, or Florida burning wood that contains these liquids will create creosote.
The only connection weather has is this:
Weather can affect draft,
but weather cannot cause creosote.
When the draft struggles, more unburned material stays in the smoke, and that contributes to creosote but the creosote still originates from the wood’s moisture and oils, not from the climate.
MYTH #2: “If the chimney was cleaned, all the creosote must be gone.”
Truth: A cleaning removes Stage 1 creosote Stage 2 and Stage 3 require a long-term chemical conversion process.
This is one of the biggest misunderstandings among homeowners.
Here’s the reality:
A brush can only remove Stage 1 creosote, the loose, brushable type.
Once creosote hardens into Stage 2 or Stage 3:
- Brushes glide over it
- It cannot be scraped off
- It cannot be “deep cleaned” in one visit
- And removing it incorrectly can damage the flue
This does not mean the sweep “missed a spot.”
It means you’re dealing with hardened creosote that requires chemical conversion, not scrubbing.
This is exactly why Metro Chimney PDX:
- Does not sell “one-time creosote removals”
- Does not use rotary chain systems that damage flue tiles
- Does not promise instant fixes
Instead, they instruct homeowners on the one anti-creosote spray that actually works, and teach them how to apply it every fire to slowly convert the hardened buildup.
MYTH #3: “There are chemicals that remove creosote instantly.”
Truth: Any company selling a “one-time creosote removal” is selling a scam.
Metro Chimney PDX has received countless calls from homeowners who paid:
$3,000–$5,000
for a “one-time chemical creosote removal” that did absolutely nothing.
Why these treatments fail:
- Stage 2 and 3 creosote cannot dissolve instantly
- Quick-dissolve acids damage liners
- They don’t convert creosote into something brushable
- Homeowners are left with the same dangerous buildup
- Companies rely on fear to upsell massive charges
These “shock treatments” are one of the worst scams in the industry and they prey specifically on homeowners who don’t understand how creosote works.
The only proven way to remove heavy creosote is:
- Chemical conversion over time,
- Using the correct anti-creosote spray,
- Applied to each piece of firewood,
- With 10–12 sprays per log,
- Waiting 10 minutes,
- And burning regularly until the next sweep.
No shortcuts.
No miracle products.
No instant fix.
MYTH #4: “Creosote buildup means the chimney wasn’t cleaned properly.”
Truth: Cleaning and chemical conversion are two different processes.
A chimney sweep is responsible for:
- Removing soot
- Clearing Stage 1 creosote
- Cleaning the smoke shelf
- Brushing the flue
- Vacuuming debris
They cannot remove Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote in a single cleaning because nobody can.
When Metro Chimney PDX encounters Stage 2 or 3, they never pretend brushing will solve it.
Instead, they create a custom conversion plan, often including:
- A 1–2 month burning regimen
- Instructions on where to buy the correct wood
- Detailed steps
- A follow-up cleaning
This is why Metro Chimney PDX is known for honesty and transparency across Lake Oswego and the Portland metro area.
MYTH #5: “You can burn certain logs and they’ll clean the chimney.”
Truth: Creosote logs do NOT remove Stage 2 or 3 they only help reduce Stage 1 and reduce odors.
Many grocery and hardware stores advertise “creosote sweeping logs.”
What these logs can do:
- Loosen Stage 1 soot
- Reduce mild flue odors
- Help break down surface flakes
What they cannot do:
- Remove Stage 2 hardened tar
- Remove Stage 3 glaze
- Replace a chimney sweep
- Convert creosote to a brushable form
Using creosote logs is fine as long as you understand they do not fix dangerous buildup.
MYTH #6: “Creosote is only dangerous if I smell something.”
Truth: The most dangerous creosote stage has almost no smell at all.
Stage 3 glazed creosote:
- Doesn’t smell
- Looks glossy
- Burns at extreme temperatures
- Ignites suddenly
- Can cause catastrophic chimney fires
Stage 1 and wet soot often smell worse but that smell is not an indicator of danger level.
The quiet buildup is the most dangerous.
MYTH #7: “I don’t use my fireplace that often, so I probably don’t have creosote.”
Truth: Even occasional fires produce creosote and light use can still produce Stage 2.
Stage 2 often forms in homes where:
- Fires are lit infrequently
- Wood sits smoldering
- Flues stay cooler
- Fires aren’t allowed to breathe
The biggest surprise to homeowners?
Light-use fireplaces can have more Stage 2 creosote than heavy-use ones.
MYTH #8: “Any chimney sweep can remove any creosote.”
Truth: Only an experienced expert understands Stage 2 & 3 conversion safely.
Many chimney companies in the Portland area:
- Skip inspecting the smoke shelf
- Don’t explain creosote stages
- Charge extra for steps that should be standard
- Upsell fake chemical removals
- Promise results they cannot deliver
Metro Chimney PDX is one of the few companies where the cleaning includes everything:
- Full sweeping
- Smoke shelf vacuuming
- Draft troubleshooting
- Damper evaluation
- Honest stage assessment
- Detailed instructions for conversion
Experience matters especially in Oregon’s diverse mix of older homes, new builds, and custom fireplaces.
So, What ACTUALLY Causes Creosote Buildup?
Here’s the real, accurate, client-approved list of causes:
Burning wood with moisture, sap, or natural oils
This is the true source of creosote always.
Incomplete combustion
Cool burns → more unburned particles → more creosote.
Fires without enough airflow
Closed dampers, packed logs, or restricted air makes smoke heavier.
Misuse of the fireplace
Smoldering, small fires create the worst buildup.
Lack of annual professional cleaning
Stage 1 becomes Stage 2, then Stage 3 if ignored.
Not following the anti-creosote regimen
Proper use of the spray (every log, every fire) prevents hardened buildup.
Using wet or unseasoned wood
This is the #1 reason creosote forms excessively in Oregon homes.
The Safe Solution Every Oregon Homeowner Should Follow
Metro Chimney PDX’s method is the only correct process for dealing with hazardous creosote:
1. Sweep to remove Stage 1
Brushes remove the light soot.
2. Identify any Stage 2 or Stage 3 buildup
Not all companies can identify these stages correctly.
3. Instruct the customer exactly how to use the correct anti-creosote spray
- 10–12 sprays per log
- Wait 10 minutes
- Burn
- Repeat every fire
4. For heavy buildup: a 1–2 month burning regimen
Metro Chimney PDX personally teaches:
- Which wood to buy
- How to prepare it
- How to burn it correctly
- How long to burn each fire
- How to monitor the conversion
5. Follow-up cleaning
When the creosote has softened into a non-flammable, non-acidic, brushable material, they return to clean it safely.
- No gimmicks.
- No shortcuts.
- No false promises.
Just expert knowledge and proven results.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the biggest myth about creosote in Oregon?
The belief that weather or humidity causes creosote. Creosote comes from liquids in the wood not from the climate.
Q2: Can a chimney sweep remove all creosote?
Only Stage 1 can be brushed off. Stage 2 and 3 require long-term chemical conversion using the correct anti-creosote spray.
Q3: Are “creosote removal logs” effective?
They help with mild soot but cannot remove Stage 2 or 3 creosote.
Q4: What cities does Metro Chimney PDX serve?
Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Sherwood, Happy Valley, Cedar Hills, and surrounding areas including Portland, Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Canby, Troutdale, Fairview, Rockwood, Damascus, and Carver.