Is It Something Spooky In Your Chimney?

Are Noises Coming from Your Chimney?

It can be a little startling to hear strange sounds coming from your chimney. Fortunately, many of the noises a chimney can make aren’t major causes for alarm. Sometimes, however, a chimney will make sounds that can tip you off to a potentially serious problem that needs quick attention.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share some helpful information about chimney sounds and what to do about them.

Small animals in the flue

This is a common cause of chimney noise when a chimney is operated without a chimney cap. Squirrels, birds, rodents and other small animals often take shelter in chimneys and sometimes have babies in there.

Stop animals, their noise and the drafting obstructions their nesting materials can cause with a sturdy chimney cap.

Wind blowing through the flue

With an open chimney top, wind can sail down into the chimney and make whistling and rushing sounds. During a fire in the fireplace, wind can blow smoke, carbon monoxide and debris into the home.

As with animals, the solution here is a quality chimney cap that helps to reduce wind and drafts. Remember to keep your damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use.

Noises from the chimney itself

Less common are the cracking and popping noises that can be made by damaged chimney bricks, a decaying chimney liner and metal chimney components as they heat up and cool down. Expanding creosote can also make odd crackling sounds.

In all these cases, you should have your chimney inspected sooner rather than later to find out exactly what the noises mean. 

The sounds of a chimney fire

Chimney fires often produce some unmistakable sounds, such as tapping, clicking and rumbling. You may also notice large amounts of dark smoke coming from the chimney top or the fireplace.

Chimney fires can be large, and they can also be small and go out before they become obvious. If you hear chimney fire sounds, call 911 and get people and pets out of the house. Don’t use your fireplace again until the chimney has been inspected by a qualified chimney inspector.

“Silent” signs of chimney trouble

Beyond noises coming from the chimney, you should also be aware of other common signs that your chimney may need attention:

• Wet or discolored sections of the ceiling and walls close to the fireplace
• White patches on the exterior masonry – this is called “efflorescence” and happens when water is getting into the bricks
• Water and any kind of debris falling into the firebox
• Chimney leaning to the side
• Cracked and spalling bricks
• Strong musty odors coming from the fireplace

The best rule of thumb for a safe chimney

It’s smart to schedule a licensed chimney inspection once a year and any time your chimney is doing something other than what you think it should be doing. An experienced chimney inspector can quickly spot early signs of chimney problems and get them fixed before major trouble happens.

Doodlebuggers is here to help with prompt chimney inspections, chimney sweeping and all types of chimney repair work. Call us throughout the Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, regions. You can also reach a chimney expert by using our contact form.