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FAQs
Fireplace smells or stinks
Does your fireplace have a foul odor coming from it?
There are several reasons that might cause your fireplace to smell bad. Here is a list!
1) Animal died: You may not have a chimney cap on your chimney or animals have eaten the screen from your chimney cap. This furry little creature may have thought your chimney might make a great home. It’s a nice tight little hole where bigger animals can’t chase them. The problem is that sometimes, it’s a one way street. The animal falls or climbs down the chimney but can’t get back up the chimney. The poor guy meets a slow death. The story does not end here. As the body decomposes, maggots and flies develop. Soon the decaying animal body begins to stink and flies enter your home. This usually only lasts a month or two. The best way to solve this issue is to have a brave chimney technician remove your damper and reach up inside the fireplace and remove the decaying animal body. Don’t forget your gloves! While the technician is there, it might be a good idea to have him install a stainless steel chimney cap to prevent future problems.
2) Animal defecation: That’s right, its animal poop. There are times that animals, especially raccoons, can climb down and up a chimney. You now have a tenant living with you that is not paying rent. The problem with this arrangement is that he’s living in a one bedroom and no bath home. The guy has little babies that aren’t potty trained and next thing you know; there is a sewage plant inside your fireplace. The best way to solve this problem is to issue the animal a humane eviction notice and place locks on the door (chimney cap.)
3) Birds in the chimney: This is a tricky situation. Most of the time when a person hears birds in the chimney, they are hearing chimney swifts. If the birds sound like squawking babies, than you have chimney swifts nesting in your chimney. You might want to have a chimney sweep verify this to make sure it’s not a duck or other animal. However, if it is a chimney swift, you’re stuck with them for a little longer. These cute little obnoxious birds are federally protected migratory birds and can not be disturbed! There is a $10,000 fine for removing these guys. There is a little good news. If you are hearing them chirp, they are likely just a few weeks away from leaving their nest. Once you stop hearing them chirp, quickly call a chimney professional to clean out the bird nest and baby bird poop. Don’t forget your gloves and respirator because you can get histoplasmosis which is a very serious lung disease from bird droppings. Install a chimney cap and you’ll no longer have bird problems.
4) Water forms mold in chimney: You should read our page regarding leaking chimneys. When water saturates to interior portions of a chimney, mold develops and grows. This mold is not only a health hazard but can also produce nasty odors. Waterproofing your chimney and sealing any leaks is a great idea.
5) Creosote: This should likely be one of the top ones mentioned. If your odor is the smell of burnt wood, than likely the odor is caused from excessive creosote deposited. If the smell is there after the chimney has been cleaned, likely the smell is disturbed creosote and remains in the joints of the flue tiles. If this smell is especially strong during the summertime, it’s likely because the humid air is causing a down draft to flow back into the home. The moisture in the air mixes with creosote and produces a smelly odor. The best way to solve this problem is to install a top sealing damper. These dampers close the top of your chimney and prevent air from traveling down your chimney. During the burning season, a pull of a chain cord allows the damper to open at the top and burn as normal.
