DIRECTIONS FOR USE
1. Safely place the packet onto a low fire** twice a month and allow up to 2 hours to burn the packet fully.
2. If no evidence of improvement is noticed, increase the frequency and seek professional advice from a registered chimney sweep.
**Please note – for the bag to burn effectively you must have an established fire burning between 150° – 300°.
To manage this we advise using a stovepipe thermometer when using your appliance and keeping it within the optimal burn range.
MY CHIMNEY SWEEP HAS RECOMMENDED A GCP TREATMENT
If your chimney sweep has recommended a 14-day GCP treatment, they have identified that your chimney has a build-up of creosote that needs removing.
What is Creosote?
Creosote is a by-product of wood combustion that consists mainly of tar. Traces of creosote are found in the smoke that rises from open flames; when the smoke travels upward and mixes with cold air and water near the top of a chimney, it solidifies and sticks to the chimney liner or, if the chimney is unlined, the brickwork itself.
Creosote has three stages. As each stage increases, they become more hazardous and are increasingly difficult to remove from the flue.
Stage 1
The first stage of creosote is like flaky soot that is easy to brush away with a basic chimney brush.
Stage 2
Creosote in the second stage can be described as shiny, hard black flakes. The flakes contain hardened tar that is not easily brushed away, but it can be removed without extreme measures. The most popular method for removing creosote in the second stage is with a rotary loop.
Stage 3
Third-stage creosote is something to be avoided. Not only is it extremely difficult to clean, but it is also an extremely concentrated fuel and looks like tar running down inside the flue. As the creosote hardens, it is often repeatedly recoated. A hot fire can easily ignite this type of creosote, which is extremely hazardous as a chimney fire can too easily lead to a house fire because the intense flames often cause a fire on the roof or damage the flue, causing combustible parts of the home to ignite.
14-day treatment process
Clear the grate and ashpan prior to lighting the appliance.
Light the appliance and allow up to 1 hour for the appliance and flue to warm up.
Safely place one packet a day for seven consecutive days onto a fire (225°C – 300°C), allowing up to 2 hours to burn the packet fully.
IMPORTANT! After seven days of burning, wait to use your appliance until your chimney sweep has swept and inspected the chimney. This is to clear any lessened deposits that could fall back down the chimney and cause a blockage.
Repeat the process by clearing the grate and ashpan before lighting the appliance and safely placing one packet a day for another seven consecutive days, allowing up to 2 hours to burn the packet fully.
IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! After the final seven days of burning, only use your appliance once your chimney sweep has swept and inspected the chimney. Again, this is to clear any lessened deposits that could fall back down the chimney and cause a blockage.
Follow the advice from your professional chimney sweep on how frequently your chimney should be swept they will also be able to advise you on what fuels to burn, how to store fuel correctly and how to use your appliance safely and efficiently.