How to Keep Your Chimney from Stinking Up Your Home

Does your chimney smell? If so, you’re not alone. Everyone with an active chimney deals with odors from time to time. Some homeowners deal with the odors almost all the time.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce or eliminate chimney odor. Fire N’ Stone of Tilton, NH, would like to tell you how to do it.

First, why does the chimney smell?

There are four primary causes of smelly chimneys:

1. Excess creosote

Creosote forms when smoke condenses. It’s an oily substance that produces a harsh, smoky odor.

2. Debris from nearby trees

Leaves, twigs, fallen fruit, and other tree debris can accumulate in a chimney flue and begin to rot over time. The resulting smell can be pretty foul.

3. Animals

Small animals, such as squirrels, rodents and birds, often get into chimneys and build nests, which, like tree debris, can rot. Some animals die in the chimney, and that produces a horrible smell.

4. A leak somewhere in the chimney

A chimney leak will cause a musty odor that can spread throughout your house. These are the likely reasons your chimney is producing odors. Here’s what to do about them.

Clean your chimney

Chimney sweeping uses specialized tools to remove built-up creosote and reduce chimney odors. A cleaner chimney is also less likely to experience a chimney fire.

Along with creosote, proper chimney sweeping will get rid of debris from trees and animals, further reducing the smelly contents in the flue.

Helpful hint: you can keep outside debris from entering your chimney in the first place by installing a secure chimney cap. These devices sit at the top of the chimney and have a solid cover and mesh sides that block debris and animals.

Controlling the smoke

Because smoke can form smelly creosote, you want to limit how much you create during your fires and how long it remains in your chimney flue. Here are some strategies.

-Burn dry firewood. Damp, unseasoned wood is very smoky.

-Don’t burn plastic, cardboard, metal, household garbage, furniture, or any other non-firewood items, as they all produce a lot of smoke.

-Make sure your fireplace damper opens completely when getting fires started to allow a fast, smooth draft of smoke up the chimney. (The longer the smoke remains in the flue, the more creosote will be created.)

-A clean flue and a chimney cap free of debris will also encourage smoke to rise and exit the chimney more quickly.

Chimney leaks

If a chimney leak is sending water into your flue, the odor problem will compound when water mixes with creosote and soot. Even with a relatively clean chimney, moisture will cause a musty odor that can filter down into your home.

Negative air pressure

Exhaust fans create negative air pressure in your home. They pull air out, and some of that air is the smelly air inside your chimney. Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are prime culprits. If you must use them, make sure your fireplace damper is tightly closed.

Address your chimney odors now

Fire N’ Stone is ready to help you reduce or eliminate your chimney odors with certified chimney sweeping, chimney repair, chimney leak resolution, chimney cap installation, and other important services.

Learn more about how we can help your chimney operate better in every way by giving us a call. You can also reach out through our contact form.