As the weather gets warmer and more humid, you may start to notice unpleasant odors coming from your chimney through the fireplace, especially if you have not had your annual professional chimney sweeping performed as of yet. Several different things can be causing these stinky smells inside your chimney, and Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales is familiar with both the sources as well as the remedies. We would like to tell you about what these smells are and how to keep them out of your home this summer.
CREOSOTE
If you burn wood in your fireplace or stove, you have creosote in your chimney. Formed naturally during the combustion process, creosote is not only flammable, but it also has an earthy and unpleasant odor. The smell of creosote gets stronger as the weather gets hotter and more humid, which means it can really smell bad in the summer. To avoid this stinky aroma, have your chimney professionally cleaned by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps from Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales this spring.
ASH & SOOT
Not only do chimneys get dirty with creosote, but they can also be full of ash and soot at the end of a cold winter. If you have weatherized your home recently or have had a new furnace, clothes dryer, bathroom exhaust fan, or a kitchen hood installed in your home, your chimney is more susceptible to downdrafts that can carry this dirty smell into your home through the fireplace. Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales can help you improve the draft in your home by installing a new chimney cap with vents on its side to direct the wind to pull the air out of the chimney.
BIRDS & ANIMALS
Unfortunately, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals can get into your chimney and become trapped. When this happens, you could have animal feces or, in the worst case scenario, a dead bird or animal inside your chimney. These odors can be unbearable, so you should call Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales for help to get the bird or animal out of your chimney safely.
The best way to prevent these unpleasant odors from occurring this summer is to have your chimney professionally cleaned. Contact us at Olde Towne Chimney & Fireplace Sales to schedule an appointment for our chimney sweeping and inspection services today.