Best Creosote Remover: Which Type to Use
The best creosote remover is the one that matches what's actually in your flue. A daily spray won't shift a heavy glaze, and a professional poultice is overkill for light soot. And none of them replace sweeping. Here's how the types differ and which to pick. Everything we list ships with No Sales Tax in any state.
Quick answer: which creosote remover to buy
- Daily maintenance through the season: ACS Anti-Creo-Soot spray, from $266.99 a case.
- Thin glaze, a few weeks before sweeping: A.W. Perkins liquid creosote remover, from $155.99 a case.
- Glazed Stage 3 creosote: Cre-Away powder, $151.99 for 6 tubes.
- Heavy glaze, with a sweep doing the work: PCR poultice, $416.99.
- A small treatment between sweeps: A.W. Perkins dry creosote reducer, $36.99, or Rx-Cr creosote cleaner, $20.99.
All ship with No Sales Tax. See every option on our creosote remover page.
First, work out which stage you have
With the stove cold, scratch the flue wall. How often to clean a chimney covers this in detail.
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| Stage | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Light, flaky soot | Brush it out. Use ACS daily to keep it down. |
| Stage 2 | Hard, crunchy, like coffee grounds | Brush it out. Dry reducer or ACS between sweeps. |
| Stage 3 | Hard, shiny, black glaze | Won't brush off. Call a certified sweep. Cre-Away or PCR. |
Glaze is the stage that causes chimney fires. If you find it, stop using the stove until a sweep has looked at it.
How does creosote remover work?
Each type works differently. ACS is a liquid manganese catalyst that helps convert creosote and soot to an ash or char, and it becomes active at surface stove pipe temperatures of 300°F and above. Cre-Away is a four-part powder: it neutralizes the creosote, dries out its oils, helps reduce the chance of a chimney fire, and uses a magnesium catalyst to break down the glaze as the flue heats. The treated creosote turns brittle and loses its grip. PCR dissolves and absorbs the creosote, then dries and falls off the flue walls.
In all three cases, what's left comes out with a brush. Saver Systems still says to have a chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year.
The four types compared
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| Type | Examples | How you use it | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spray or liquid | ACS, A.W. Perkins liquid | In the firebox, regularly, with a fire | Ongoing control and thin glaze |
| Powder | Cre-Away, A.W. Perkins dry reducer | Cre-Away goes up into the chimney. The dry reducer is sprinkled on a hot fire. | Glaze (Cre-Away), between sweeps (dry reducer) |
| Poultice | PCR | Mixed with water and applied to the flue walls | Heavy 3rd degree glaze, professional use |
| Logs | Sold in hardware stores. We don't carry them. | Burned in the firebox, following the box directions | A light treatment between sweeps |
How to use Cre-Away
- Apply it into the chimney, not into the fire. A small fire may be needed to get the air flowing up the chimney.
- Tip the squeeze tube on its side and shake it hard. Point the nozzle up into the chimney and squeeze hard four or five times, using about a third of the bottle or until the chimney is coated.
- Burn a fire to trigger the catalyst. Keep using Cre-Away each time you set a new fire for about a week.
- Clean the chimney as usual, then apply another coat. After that, add a coat once a week.
Reaction time varies with your wood, burning habits and how much glaze there is. It can take a week or two, and heavy build-up may need regular use and several cleanings over the season. Cre-Away is not recommended for wood stoves with catalytic combustors. The 25 lb pail is applied with the Cre-Away Applicator and an air compressor.
Frequently asked questions
Should you burn creosote logs by themselves?
Follow the directions on the box, because they vary by brand. We don't sell these logs. Whichever you use, a log doesn't replace sweeping, and it won't deal with a heavy glaze.
What dissolves hardened creosote?
PCR is designed to dissolve 3rd degree glazed creosote from flue tile and stainless liners. It's a poultice mixed with water, using gloves, a respirator and eye protection, and it's usually a job for a sweep. Extremely heavy deposits may need more than one application.
Which creosote remover is safe for a catalytic stove?
ACS is safe with catalytic combustors. Put the combustor in bypass before treating and for about an hour afterward, and never spray it on a hot combustor. Cre-Away is not recommended for these stoves.
How do I clean creosote stains off glass or brick?
That's a surface cleaner job. ACS Home & Hearth Cleaner removes smoke and creosote stains from fireplace glass, hearths, brick and stone, and Paint 'N' Peel lifts stains from fireplace brick.
Does creosote remover replace a chimney sweep?
No. These products make creosote easier to remove. You still need to brush it out, and have the chimney inspected once a year. See how to clean a chimney yourself.
Related guides
Not sure what's in your flue? Email a photo to info@stovesource.com or text 1-888-866-8206. Every creosote remover ships with No Sales Tax in any state.