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Why Does My Chimney Smell?

Are you ready for the warm summer months coming up? When temperatures rise, families gear up for outdoor fun, family vacations, and maybe even some home renovations – very exciting! Yet, as homeowners spend more time outside, their fireplaces face less use and some notice drafts coming down their chimney. Unfortunately, with these drafts come some pretty nasty smells…

We’re here to explain this in more depth and let you know how to best prevent these odors from stinking up your home. Learn more below!

Adjusting Your Home’s Pressure

The biggest reason why homeowners get these nasty smells is due to negative air pressure. Negative air pressure pushes the odors from the chimney into your living area. Newer, tighter homes tend to face this problem a lot. This is especially true in the warm months after your home has been weatherized or your venting set-up has changed. You can try introducing make-up air into your home by opening a window or two, but this doesn’t always solve the problem either.

chimney damper TN ValleyA good solution would be to install a top-sealing damper to ensure no air can enter your chimney and push the smells downward. Top-sealing dampers provide an airtight seal at the top of your chimney so that downdrafts are never something you have to deal with. On top this, they help keep out birds and other animals, and they keep your chimney warmer in the winter, so your energy bills are lower – all in all, they’re a great investment for your home and wallet!

Cleaning Your Chimney

Another way to help with chimney odors is to schedule your annual cleaning. This is important to do at least once per year to ensure your home stays free of creosote buildup, which can cause some serious stink in your fireplace. You can remove debris to keep your home safe, as creosote is known for being highly flammable.

Fixing Moisture Issues

As temperatures rise and the spring rains begin to fall, you may notice some chimney leaks and moisture accumulating throughout your system. This is another reason why odors may start to occur, especially once temperatures increase. You will notice musty smells if water pools and sits for a long time. Also, if dirt, leaves, and other debris gets wet and forms clogs, you’ll notice odors from that, as well.

This is another reason that annual cleaning is so important! Have an expert get in and remove any clogs or buildup, so that you can safely use your fireplace all year long. You will also want to repair any leaks, holes, or cracks then have your chimney sweep apply waterproofing products so that water damage won’t be an issue any longer.

We Want To Help

If you are ever worried about the health of your chimney, please give us a call so that we can check things over. We’d love to help you out with anything you may need! Count on A-1 Chimney Specialist today!