With outdoor temperatures rising, we’re guessing that you’re not putting your fireplace to use as much as you were a couple of months ago. In fact, once spring and summer come around, most homeowners put chimney maintenance on the back burner until fall weather arrives again and their burning season is about to begin. Unfortunately, this lack of maintenance can lead to bigger issues, such as bad smells entering your home, deterioration, and more.

Ready to explore the issue further? Great! The team here at Sweeps & Ladders is here to help with it all. No matter what issues you are facing, we’re certain we can point you in the right direction, and our crew would be happy to answer any and all of your concerns or questions along the way. Reach out now, so that we can get started!

Does Your Fireplace Smell? - Middle Tennessee - Sweeps & Ladders Chimney ServiceWhat Causes My Fireplace To Smell?

One of the main things that trigger fireplace odors is creosote. What does this substance smell like? Well, some relate it to tar or asphalt, and it has even been described as having a burnt barbecue smell. Needless to say, it’s an odor you don’t want traveling through your home, and once it has entered getting it out of your rugs, carpets, curtains, furniture, and more may take a bit of time.

Unfortunately, the heat and humidity associated with summer weather combined with your urge to crank up the air conditioning is what causes these smells to really swoop through your home, creating a less than pleasant atmosphere, indeed.

Other times, foul odors are to do with poor draft. If downdrafts are continuously swooping through your chimney, they’ll likely bring any foul odors the pass with them along the way. Whatever is in your chimney, be it soot, creosote, bird feces, or decaying animals, those odors will easily rush into your home.

Which brings us to the next major cause of foul smells – animals. They might be living in your chimney with their young or maybe they got stuck and passed away in there, but either way wildlife isn’t known for producing the most pleasing aromas. Unfortunately, your sturdy chimney provides a safe and cozy spot for them to build nests and have babies, so many animals (especially birds, squirrels, and raccoons) are drawn to any easily accessible chimney they can find.

Finally, excess moisture in your flue can stink things up in a hurry. When combined with creosote, leaves, dead animals, and other debris, it can create a musty, rotting smell that no one in your home will appreciate. Not to mention, water exposure is extremely bad for various parts of your chimney, causing your bricks to crumble, your metal components to rust, and your liner to break down. All in all, investing in leak prevention is a must!

How Can I Prevent Bad Odors From Occurring?

So, how can you stop the smells from occurring in the first place? Well, there are a few strategies. The first is to invest in a good sweeping completed by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep. This will ensure all creosote is effectively removed from your system, and you minimize the risk of the bad smells it creates entering your living space. Removing creosote also significantly reduces your risk of experiencing a chimney fire, which would cause extensive damage and increases the likelihood of smoke, carbon monoxide, flames, and other dangers entering your home.

A thorough sweeping will also allow your sweep the opportunity to remove animals, leaves, twigs, or anything else clogging up your flue. All in all, if something is causing a stink, a qualified pro will be able to get it out of there, so you can stress less about the condition or your fireplace.

If smells are still lingering you may want to try a chimney deodorant, or even baking soda or kitty litter has been known to reduce smells. And, a lot of times, it’s just a simple matter of correcting poor draft. A simple solution would be to open a window to let in some make-up air, or in more extreme cases the construction of your chimney may need to be corrected.

Think your airflow issues have to do with a missing or poorly constructed chimney cap? That’s an easy and affordable fix, too! Chimney caps are known for preventing downdrafts, and they also keep water and animals out of your flue, too. All in all, they could solve a few of your odor-related problems all at once, so why not make the investment today?

Other ways to prevent too much water exposure are flashing repair and installation, waterproofing, crown repairs/rebuilds, and the installation of a chase cover. We’re equipped to handle all of these services, so reach out now to set up an appointment with our team.

Our Qualified Crew Is Ready To Serve

Along with being both CSIA and NFI certified, the Sweeps & Ladders team is also associated with the NCSG, and we have received a large number of 5-star reviews, as well as an A+ rating with the BBB. There’s no better crew throughout Middle, Brentwood, Nashville, Spring Hill, and all of their surrounding towns and cities. Give us a call today!

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