When you think of a fire, you think of crackling flames, comfort on a snowy night, and the pleasant 
smell of burning wood. Unfortunately, the odors that come from your chimney are not always so pleasant. There are several things that can cause bad odors to emanate from your fireplace. In most cases, it’s an easy fix to get your fireplace and the room it’s in smelling fresh.
Causes of Chimney Odors and Solutions to these Causes
- The ashes that are left over after you burn a fire in your fireplace can cause a stuffy scent in the room. The solution to this problem would seem obvious: remove the ashes. And this is a good place to start. Home Guides recommends removing the ashes from your fireplace on a weekly basis. Use a stiff brush to reach into the interior of your chimney to loosen any ashes within your reach that may be clinging there, and then push the ashes that fall into a dustpan and dump them into a garbage bag. Remove this from your home right away to prevent spillage in your house. If odors linger in the room, sprinkle carpets and furniture with baking soda, let it sit for an hour, then vacuum these surfaces to make things fresh-smelling.
- Your chimney may have a blockage, and the smoke or other gasses from your fire are not being drawn away from the house. Again, this can be an easy fix: remove the blockage. According to ehow.com, oftentimes this blockage is caused by a bird or animal building a nest, or by branches, twigs, or leaves that have blown into your chimney. If the source of your blockage is close to the top of the chimney or is something that can easily be removed, you can try to remove it yourself. However, if the blockage is more severe or isn’t easily accessible, call a Chimney Safety Institute of America certified chimney sweep, like one from Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, to help with removal. These experts could also tell you if a chimney cap would be of help in keeping animals and other debris out of your chimney.
- Creosote build-up can also cause severe odors in your chimney, especially in the summer months when humidity is high. The Chimney Safety Institute of America states that “[T]he real problem is the air being drawn down the chimney, a symptom of overall pressure problems in the house.” This downdraft occurs when your fireplace doesn’t have a fire burning, and it can force air and odors back into your home. A simple approach to try to avoid this problem would be to buy a rack for votive candles and to burn these in your fireplace during the summer. However, a safer approach would be to hire Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service Inc professionals to inspect and clean your chimney.
You don’t have to live with odors that come from your chimney. If you have an odor problem, check for these issues, and remember: your best approach is a proactive approach. Call Chim-Cheroo Chimney Service Inc. to set up your annual inspection and cleaning. They can give you great tips to keep your fireplace and chimney clean and smelling great.