Imagine this: sitting by the fireplace on a romantic evening, then suddenly, a foul smell coming from your fireplace! What’s that smell? Some odor is normal, but if it is overwhelming, it is time to call a certified sweep.
Why does my fireplace and chimney stink?
A smelly fireplace can quickly ruin a romantic night by the fire. Call Mason’s today and lets get you back in front of a roaring fire.
There are a number of common reasons for having a smelly chimney. Here are a few:
· Creosote and soot build up
· Decomposing material such as leaves or small animals that were trapped
· Animal excrement
· Water in the chimney that has caused mold to form
How do you get rid of the smell?
First things first, get that long overdue inspection that your chimney deserves. Mason’s Chimney Service & Certified Air Duct Cleaning offers reliable chimney inspections. This will help the professional sweeps gauge if other repairs are needed. Of course, if you’ve already gotten to the point of a smelly chimney, you should also invest in a chimney sweeping.
The next thing to do is to waterproof the chimney. Water and moisture from rain or humid days can accumulate in the small spaces of the chimney and cause all sorts of problems such as cracks or the growth of deadly molds. Not only does it give a certain musty odour, but it can cause health problems as well. We can easily and quickly take care of this by installing a damper or a chimney cap. This serves as a barrier against rain, falling leaves, and even small critters that don’t belong in your chimney.
Lastly, have a professional check the draft of your chimney and the air pressure inside the home. Even a clean chimney could cause some unwanted smells if there is a negative air pressure inside the room that draws in the air from outside through the flue and out of the fireplace leading to the house. A quick fix to this is to keep a window slightly open all the time, but that is not a very long term solution as you will have to close your windows at some point. A better way is to learn how to regulate air flow by using the chimney damper as suggested earlier. In this case, a top sealing damper might just do the trick.
Overview
Smells can be normal, or can signal a serious issue with your chimney. Do not use your fireplace until it is inspected by a certified sweep. Blocked chimneys can be dangerous. Once your chimney is cleared for use, there are steps you should take to protect your chimney from excess moisture and animals. This helps ensure proper draft, optimal performance and lowers the risk of future problems.