Why Does My Fireplace Stink?
At the last rainfall, we had a ton of inquiries. The question everyone was asking, “why does my fireplace stink?” It is distracting when you’re sitting in your common area and you can’t enjoy what you are doing due to the smell. Sometimes it comes in whiffs and other times it is a constant bad odor. What causes the odor and how can you get rid of it?
Gas Fireplace: Why Does My Fireplace Stink?
As we all know, wood burning fireplaces need to be swept and inspected… But so do gas fireplaces. Gas fireplaces can smell too! But it’s different than a wood burning fireplace. The most common smell for the gas fireplace is a musty / dusty smell. What’s that from? Dust and moisture. When the fireplace isn’t used dust gets collected in the fireplace. When it then gets lit, the dust gets burned off and a foul odor is created and consumes the living space. It doesn’t take long for dust to gather. Homeowners need to be cautious when that happens. Getting the fireplace and chimney swept and inspected can help to avoid the smell from happening.
Wood burning Fireplace: Why Does My Fireplace Stink?
Wood burning fireplaces have a different reason for it smelling. Every time that a fire is lit with wood, a byproduct is created. It’s called creosote. It’s a black substance that sticks to the sides of the walls of the chimney flue. When you add the moisture of rain and humidity either separately or together, you get a smell like a campfire, except this one doesn’t smell so good. The other issue with creosote is its flammability. This can be a dangerous byproduct, which is why sweeping is critical.
By having regular chimney sweeping and inspection, our certified chimney technicians help get rid of the smell as well as the dangers of creosote.
How Can Homeowners Minimize the Smell?
Here are three ways that you can minimize the smell in the fireplace and at the same time keep it healthy and safe for your home.
- Chimney Sweeping and Inspection: Be sure to get a yearly sweep and inspection in order to control the odor from the fireplace. However, if you do use your fireplace often, then twice per year is the way to go to ensure safety and odor control.
- Install a Damper: Dampers are a great addition to your fireplace system if you do not have one already. This is a great way to control the airflow and keep the odor and smell in the chimney, especially on rainy days and humid conditions.
- Chimney Cap: A chimney cap works to keep water out of the home, and directs it away from the home. The chimney cap ensures that debris, water and animals stay on the outside and not make their way in the home.
Now that you know the top reasons why does your fireplace smells, it’s time to do something about it. Contact us today and we’ll send out one of our certified chimney technicians to guide you through the process.
This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net
