Black Knight Energy, Inc - Serving Pittsburgh Since 1976

From 1976 to the present, Black Knight Energy, Inc. has swept more than 35,000 chimneys.

Methods of cleaning a chimney have changed over the years. In Europe, they used ‘climbing boys’ who literally climbed up the inside of a chimney brushing out the soot. In this country old time methods ranged from filling the base with dried grass and burning the chimney clean, to tying a goose on a rope and pulling it up the flue letting the goose’s wings flap the chimney clean. With the goose’s job done, it then had the honor of being dinner.

However, today’s methods are a bit more refined using steel brushes connected to flexible rods that scrub the side walls of chimneys. Plus there are special vacuums with high micron filters that prevent soot from filling homes or dusting rooms. Heavy canvas drop cloths cover all the work areas. The flexible rods are up to one inch diameter which are capable of sweeping chimneys up to 125 feet high.

Actual sweeping methods vary depending on home and chimney construction. Most open wood burning fireplaces are swept from the inside. This method allows for cleaning of smoke chambers, smoke shelf areas, and controlling the amount of soot and dust coming down into the home.

Smoke chambers are triangular areas that funnel smoke into the actual chimney. Smoke chambers can not be cleaned from the top of a chimney. Smoke shelf is the area behind the damper. Smoke shelf areas are where most chimney fires start. Smoke shelves vary in size with some being huge and capable of holding vast amounts of soot and creosote. Smoke shelves must also be cleaned to prevent hot, unaccessible fires in this area.

Wood stoves, fireplace inserts, add-on wood/coal furnace flues are normally swept from the top down. High micron vacuums are used to control soot and dust. Every job is different, as is every home and individual. Black Knight has the knowledge and abilities to address each situation and treat each job accordingly. There is no one shoe fits all approach with trained, experienced employees who will treat your home as if it was their own.

Creosote is the build up of unburned hydro carbon material in chimneys from wood burning fires. The degree or amount of creosote produced depends on many factors. Primary factors that contribute to creosote build up are as follows:

Combustion air or fire intensity. Hot fires produce less creosote.
Moisture content in wood. Wet or green wood burns cooler and smokes. Firewood moisture content should be 12-20%.
Chimney temperature- Creosote is formed by the condensation of hot smoke on a cold surface.

Older homes designed to be heated with wood or coal had chimneys built up through the center of the home. This location kept chimneys warm resulting in less chimney fires, or chimney fires with much less intensity and subsequent damage. Fireproof roof covers of slate or tin also helped these older homes survive sparks and/or chimney fires.
Today’s construction methods have most chimneys located on outside walls exposed to the cold. Although this building method provides more livable square footage, creosote build up is increased ten fold.

Oversized wood burning appliances. Burning wood stoves at low temperatures, smoldering smoky fires produce the most creosote. Appliances should be burned maintaining a 400 degree stack temperature for the least amount of creosote accumulation.
Better insulated homes. Today’s homes are better insulated, have double-triple pane windows, insulated doors and tighter than ever before. While that is a good thing for energy savings and eliminating cold drafts in homes, these factors can cause issues with excessive creosote build up, smoking, and down draft.

The above five factors for creosote build up is just the tip of the iceberg. Each primary factor listed could have a dozen or more subchapters. A good rule of thumb to follow is common sense and general awareness which is crucial for heating with wood or any appliance that burns fossil fuels. Heat, oxygen and fuel are the three elements required for proper combustion. Reduction of any one of these three will create soot. Elimination of any of these will result in your fire going out.


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	Chimney Sweeping From 1976 to the present, Black Knight Energy, Inc. has swept more than 35,000 chimneys. Methods of cleaning a chimney have changed over the years. In Europe, they used ‘climbing boys’ who literally climbed up the inside of a chimney brushing out the soot. In this country old time methods ranged from filling the base with dried grass and burning the chimney clean, to tying a goose on a rope and pulling it up the flue letting the goose’s wings flap the chimney clean. With the goose’s job done, it then had the honor of being dinner. However, today’s methods are a bit more refined using steel brushes connected to flexible rods that scrub the side walls of chimneys. Plus there are special vacuums with high micron filters that prevent soot from filling homes or dusting rooms. Heavy canvas drop cloths cover all the work areas. The flexible rods are up to one inch diameter which are capable of sweeping chimneys up to 125 feet high. Actual sweeping methods vary depending on home and chimney construction. Most open wood burning fireplaces are swept from the inside. This method allows for cleaning of smoke chambers, smoke shelf areas, and controlling the amount of soot and dust coming down into the home. Smoke chambers are triangular areas that funnel smoke into the actual chimney. Smoke chambers can not be cleaned from the top of a chimney. Smoke shelf is the area behind the damper. Smoke shelf areas are where most chimney fires start. Smoke shelves vary in size with some being huge and capable of holding vast amounts of soot and creosote. Smoke shelves must also be cleaned to prevent hot, unaccessible fires in this area. Wood stoves, fireplace inserts, add-on wood/coal furnace flues are normally swept from the top down. High micron vacuums are used to control soot and dust. Every job is different, as is every home and individual. Black Knight has the knowledge and abilities to address each situation and treat each job accordingly. There is no one shoe fits all approach with trained, experienced employees who will treat your home as if it was their own. Creosote: How It Is Formed and Why? Creosote is the build up of unburned hydro carbon material in chimneys from wood burning fires. The degree or amount of creosote produced depends on many factors. Primary factors that contribute to creosote build up are as follows: Combustion air or fire intensity. Hot fires produce less creosote. Moisture content in wood. Wet or green wood burns cooler and smokes. Firewood moisture content should be 12-20%. Chimney temperature- Creosote is formed by the condensation of hot smoke on a cold surface. Older homes designed to be heated with wood or coal had chimneys built up through the center of the home. This location kept chimneys warm resulting in less chimney fires, or chimney fires with much less intensity and subsequent damage. Fireproof roof covers of slate or tin also helped these older homes survive sparks and/or chimney fires. Today’s construction methods have most chimneys located on outside walls exposed to the cold. Although this building method provides more livable square footage, creosote build up is increased ten fold. Oversized wood burning appliances. Burning wood stoves at low temperatures, smoldering smoky fires produce the most creosote. Appliances should be burned maintaining a 400 degree stack temperature for the least amount of creosote accumulation. Better insulated homes. Today’s homes are better insulated, have double-triple pane windows, insulated doors and tighter than ever before. While that is a good thing for energy savings and eliminating cold drafts in homes, these factors can cause issues with excessive creosote build up, smoking, and down draft. The above five factors for creosote build up is just the tip of the iceberg. Each primary factor listed could have a dozen or more subchapters. A good rule of thumb to follow is common sense and general awareness which is crucial for heating with wood or any appliance that burns fossil fuels. Heat, oxygen and fuel are the three elements required for proper combustion. Reduction of any one of these three will create soot. Elimination of any of these will result in your fire going out.