Does your house smell like it’s smoking and there’s no fire in your fireplace? It could be that your chimney is clogged with soot, or that you have ground-level air intakes.
Most people have experienced the unpleasant smell of a chimney. But what causes it? Here are some reasons why your chimney smells bad and why you might need a chimney cleaning.
Your Chimney is Covered in Soot
Your chimney may be covered with soot at the base of the flue or on top of the bricks, which is surprising because most homes have stainless steel linings. If you suspect this is happening, ask your homeowner’s insurance company about changing to a cleaner lining on your primary heat source.
The Flue Vent is Dented
If your flue is dented and doesn’t have a smooth surface, the heat won’t exchange well between the flue and the chimney. As a result, your chimney will be venting cold air instead of warm air and might cause the smell.
To correct this problem, have your insurance company remove your dented flue and replace it with one that is smooth all the way through. You may need to call an outside contractor to do this work if they can’t fit into your narrow fireplace opening.
The Chimney is Damaged or Not Working Properly
A chimney that isn’t designed properly will cause heated smoke to exit from the chimney instead of entering it. If your chimney isn’t working, it can keep the inside of the home warmer than normal which stresses your heating/air conditioning system and cause a bad smell.
The Chimney is Soaking Up Water in Your Home
Every chimney and flue are like a water pipe to the home, and when it’s damaged it can gather moisture to cause mold and other problems. In addition, if you live in an area that’s constantly wet or has standing water, this can create a breeding ground for mold which causes a musty smell.
As a result, you need to have your chimney cleaned regularly by an experienced contractor. This job can be quite expensive if it’s not already part of your homeowners’ insurance plan.
The Chimney is Damaged from Fireplace Build-Up
If you have a fireplace, it can create a lot of soot and ash that damages your chimney. In fact, if you don’t clean out the flue regularly enough, it will cause your chimney to smell bad or even collapse. This will also cause an air exchange problem which could lead to additional problems for your heating/air conditioning system and house.
If your chimney smells due to the reasons mentioned above, let us fix it for you. At CT Chimney Repair, we offer regular chimney inspections, chimney repair, and chimney sweep services to the residents of Connecticut.
We also offer masonry services and fireplace installation services. Contact us to find out more.
