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All Seasons Chimney Truck

1083 Little Britain Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

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Company Blog

Why Does My Chimney Smell?

Smelly chimneys are more common than you think, especially during the hottest months of the year. Every summer, our experts care for plenty of stinky chimneys. There are multiple cause for this unpleasant chimney odor. However, you can trust our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps to find the source of the odor and solve this problem. We would like to tell you more about some of the causes for a smelly chimney and ways to get rid it.

CREOSOTE

Why Does My Chimney Smell - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons ChimneyIf you have a wood-burning fireplace, then there is a good chance there are creosote deposits stuck on your inner chimney walls. This compound has a distinctively strong odor that worsens with heat and humidity. Developing naturally as a fire burns, creosote is the residue from smoke, gases, and other byproducts of combustion. It can accumulate to form large deposits, which are very smelly and hazardous.

Creosote is highly flammable. The CSIA has named it a leading cause of chimney fires. This emphasize the importance of getting your chimney professionally swept each year. Our CSIA-certified sweeps will make certain to thoroughly clean your chimney. They will work very hard to ensure every bit of creosote is removed to make your fireplace safe and odor-free.

BIRDS AND WILD ANIMALS

Another cause for stinky chimneys is wild animals such as birds, bats, squirrels, raccoons. They can nesting inside your flue and leave behind hazards that are not only dangerous but can also cause lots of stink. Their nesting materials can be smelly, and they can also leave behind droppings that are quite odorous. Birds or animals can also become trapped and die inside your chimney, and that odor is unbearable. Our professionals can help you avoid this situation by installing a chimney cap with metal mesh sidings to prevent critters from entering the flue.

WATER LEAKS

If you have been noticing a musty mildew odor from your chimney, there is probably a water leak. If your chimney is uncapped, you could have standing water inside your firebox or in the smoke chamber. There also may be leaves, dirt, and other debris mixing with the water, which can lead to an odor problem in your chimney.

You chimney could also have possible mildew and mold growth, which is very hazardous for the health of you and your family. All Seasons Chimney can do a water leak inspection to see exactly where the problem is. We will also give you a written explanation of the damage with photographs along with a fair and honest estimate of the repair and preventive services for your chimney. We specialize in keeping water out of your chimney with chimney caps, customized flashing, and waterproofing.

Don’t let a smelly chimney ruin your summer! Contact us today at to schedule our professional chimney services.

What Is the Point of a Chimney Liner?

You have been searching tirelessly for the right historical house to make your new home, and you finally found the perfect one to buy. However, when you get the report from the Level 2 professional chimney inspection you need before you can make an offer on the home, you discover that the chimney is missing a liner. Since chimney liners were not mandated by most The Point of a Chimney Liner - Poughkeepsie NY - All Seasons Chimneylocal building codes before the 1940’s, it is not uncommon to see unlined chimneys in historic homes, and because of this, All Seasons Chimney is very familiar and experienced with bringing these chimneys up to modern safety codes and standards. For over 25 years, we have been providing professional chimney lining services to the residents of the Poughkeepsie area, and we can help you make the historical home of your dreams a reality by installing the best type of liner for the chimney. We are often asked why chimney liners are so important, and we would like to tell you more about the point of this essential chimney component.

PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM HEAT TRANSFER

The reason why most local cities and municipalities began mandating chimney liners in the 1940’s has to do with the results of tests given by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) concerning the safety of masonry chimneys. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the NBS found that heat moved so quickly through an unlined chimney that it ignited the adjacent woodwork in less than three and a half hours. This is why the NBS stated that building a chimney without a liner was so unsafe that it was “little less than criminal.” All Seasons Chimney can protect your home from the risk of an accidental fire by installing a durable stainless steel liner inside your chimney to stop heat transfer from occurring.

PREVENTS CORROSIVE MASONRY DAMAGE

Without a liner in place, the bricks and mortar joints of your chimney are at risk of damage by the corrosive and acidic byproducts of combustion. A chimney liner protects the masonry materials from being penetrated by flue gases, which can cause serious erosion damage. This type of masonry damage can deteriorate rapidly, and it can lead to dangerous hazards including heat transfers and carbon monoxide leaks. Our CSIA-certified chimney experts at All Seasons Chimney place your safety at the highest priority, and we can recommend the best liners to give your bricks and mortar joints the most ultimate protection against corrosive combustion gases.

PROVIDES A CORRECTLY-SIZED FLUE

A popular way to increase the energy efficiency of your home is to install a new gas insert inside your existing fireplace opening. To make sure your new fireplace insert works at its highest level of efficiency, it is important that the flue size matches the size of the insert. Typically, masonry chimneys are much larger than fireplace inserts, but All Seasons Chimney knows how to solve this problem by installing a custom sized stainless steel liner to give your insert a properly sized flue. We can also perform this service if you currently have a mismatched sized flue for your existing hearth appliance.

In order to function safely and efficiently, your chimney needs several important components, including the liner, in place. Contact us today at All Seasons Chimney to learn more about our professional chimney relining services.