In spite of all that goes on inside your fireplace and chimney, both should be virtually odorless; a normal working fireplace will send the smell up and out of the chimney with the draft long before it ever has the chance to creep into your home. In addition, the room in which your fireplace or stove is located shouldn’t have much, if any, smell either. In fact, the presence of an unpleasant smell or of any smoke inside your home almost always indicates that your chimney requires some professional attention. In other words, if your chimney stinks to high heaven, that’s just its way of telling you it’s sick.
This image is courtesy of Dennis Lamb of Mad Hatter Chimney Service in Indianapolis IN.
Odor Culprit #1: Creosote
We often recommend starting the chimney odor removal process with a good chimney sweeping. Otherwise attempting odor removal is a lost cause—like putting perfume on to mask body odor rather than taking a shower. By having your chimney cleaned, you’ll be removing all the built-up creosote that has accumulated. Creosote, which is a byproduct of burning wood, is usually what creates that strong smoky smell.
Odor Culprit #2: Water Penetration
Still other people say they detect a musty, mildew smell. This type of smell tells us that water is getting inside your chimney and that water damage may have occurred. In addition, the propagation of mold inside your chimney can be a detriment to your family’s health. There are many ways Northeastern Masonry & Chimney can keep water out of your chimney in the future, including installing a chimney cap or top-sealing damper and waterproofing your chimney’s exterior.
Odor Culprit #3: Draft Issues
If your chimney is drawing smoky smells directly into your living space this is a pretty good indicator that your chimney has a drafting problem, which may be caused by a blockage or by an improperly sized chimney. A quick solution to your draft issue is to crack a window. For a more permanent approach, you must limit the amount of air that’s able to come down your chimney in the first place; a top-sealing damper can help get rid of the airflow and accompanying odor problems once and for all.
Odor Culprit #4: Unwanted Chimney Guests
Lastly, animals and birds may have nested inside your chimney and become trapped there. If you think you smell a dead animal inside your chimney, a professional chimney sweep will be able to remove it, deodorize the area, and equip your chimney with the necessary components to keep animals out in the future.
Don’t allow your chimney’s hidden odors to become a problem in your home. The service professionals at Northeastern Masonry & Chimney serve customers throughout eastern New York and western Massachusetts, many of which complain of chimney odors, especially during the hot summer months when their chimneys are essentially left to bake and the humidity mixes with the contents of the chimney, releasing the pent-up smells from years of fires. For more information on deodorizing your chimney and preventing future odors, contact one of our knowledgeable staff members to schedule an appointment. Our team has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the chimney system and provides high-quality services. Whatever services you need for your chimney system, you can count on the knowledge and experience of our trained technicians. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you for years to come.