Help! My Fireplace Stinks!
When the weather gets warmer, you may notice a stinky odor coming from your fireplace and wonder what in the world has caused this unpleasant smell. Several things could be the culprit, and in these situations, you should call a professional chimney company like All Seasons Chimney. Our trained and certified chimney sweeps know exactly what to look for, and sometimes the source of the stinky odor can be hazardous, so it is best to allow the professionals to check out your smelly fireplace. To give you an idea of what the possible causes of what is making your fireplace stink, we would like to share with you the top three causes.
Are you wondering why there is a foul smell coming from your fireplace? We have a good idea where to start.
- CREOSOTE The top cause of a smelly chimney, creosote is a naturally-formed compound that sticks to the walls of your chimney as a result of the condensation that occurs when the by-products of combustion like smoke, gases, water vapors, tar fog, and other minerals exit the cooler, upper walls of your chimney. Differing in appearance, creosote can be brown or black, and it can be shiny and hard, sticky and tar-like, or crusty and flaky. Over the fireplace season, creosote deposits can build up and become hazardous, becoming the top cause of chimney fires, according to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). Additionally, when the temperatures outside rise, the creosote deposits also begin to emit a foul odor, so strongly it reaches inside your house. The solution to this problem is simple: have your chimney cleaned and inspected annually by a CSIA-certified company like All Seasons Chimney. We remove all creosote deposits from your chimney during our sweeping, and we can help you to prevent the creosote-friendly atmosphere a chimney that needs repairing has.
- DRAFTING PROBLEMS If your fireplace smells smoky, you may have a problem with your drafting system. These problems can be caused by blockages in your chimney, including creosote deposits. What occurs when you have drafting issues is the smoky air trying to be pushed out of your fireplace cannot fully escape, and the smoky and stinky air is pushed back into your house. You will know for sure if your stinky fireplace problem has to do with drafting because if you light a fire in it, your room will fill with smoke. Again, an annual chimney sweeping and inspection from All Seasons Chimney can solve this problem as well.
- MOLD If you have a leaky chimney, chances are mold could be the cause of your stinky chimney, and you will know by the distinctive musty smell of mold if this is your problem. Other signs of chimney mold include stains on the exterior of your hearth or the ceilings and walls around your fireplace. If mold is the suspected cause, call All Seasons Chimney immediately to schedule a consultation. Mold can be a serious issue and affect the health of you and your family, so it is urgent you seek the help of our experienced chimney sweeps.
If your fireplace stinks, contact All Seasons Chimney today to schedule a chimney sweeping and inspection. A smelly chimney is never a good sign.