Should You Be Alarmed if Your Chimney Smells Bad?

Some chimney odors are “normal,” but others point to issues that need to be looked into right away. Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share some helpful information about chimney odors and how to address them.

The Most Common Reasons For A Smelly Chimney

In no particular order:

1. Excess creosote and soot
2. Water leaks
3. Leaves, twigs and other tree debris
4. The nesting material of small animals
5. Dead animals

Let’s look at each one and talk about how to fix them.

1. Creosote and Soot

These substances form in the flue when you use a wood fireplace. Creosote is oily and smelly, and the more of it that’s mixing with soot in your chimney, the more of an odor problem you’re going to have.

Solve it: Have your chimney professionally swept once a year to remove excess creosote and soot.

Chimney Leaks: Causes of Odors & Repair Tips

If your chimney is leaking and water is getting into the flue, it’s going to mix with whatever creosote is there and compound the odor problem.

Solve it: Have a chimney service technician inspect your chimney and determine the source of the leak. Common causes include a damaged or missing chimney cap and major chimney liner damage that allows water from a masonry leak to move into the flue. Whatever the cause, get it repaired.

3. Tree Debris

If you run your chimney without a protective chimney cap, flue cover or top-sealing damper, the flue is open to anything falling from nearby trees that can fit into it. Leaves and twigs will rot inside the chimney and produce horrible odors.

Solve it: Install a protective chimney top and have debris cleaned out of the flue.

4. Animal Nests

Squirrels, birds, raccoons, rodents and other small critters love to shelter in chimneys. Some of them build nests. As with tree debris, the nesting material will eventually rot and start to smell. Plus, some animals themselves don’t smell very nice, nests or no nests.

Solve it: Have the chimney swept to remove the nests.

5. Dead Animals

Animals will sometimes die inside a chimney flue, unable to escape. The odor from a decomposing animal is unmistakable and one you definitely don’t want inside your home.

Solve it: As above, install a chimney cap, flue cover, or top-sealing damper, and schedule a chimney cleaning.

How You Might Be Making An Odor Situation Worse

If your chimney smells, you’ll worsen the effect if you draw the odors into your home. You do this by:

• Forgetting to close the damper when the fireplace isn’t being used.
• Running bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, which pull air down from the chimney.
• Neglecting to have the chimney cleaned on a regular schedule.
• Keeping all windows closed in an airtight home. Crack a window near the fireplace to allow air to move up the chimney.

Help For All Your Chimney Problems

Doodlebuggers provides a full scope of chimney cleaning, chimney repair and chimney inspection services. We’re here to help with your smelly chimney problems and all other issues your chimney might be facing.

In Pensacola, FL, or Destin, FL, give us a call or reach out with our contact form.