Allstar Chimney Sweeps

At Allstar Chimney Sweeps, we understand that a fireplace can provide you with both comfort and warmth all year around. However, when you begin to neglect your fireplace and chimney and don’t follow through with routine maintenance, this can lead to severe problems. Of all the problems that have the potential to happen, the most difficult and often the most costly to solve is odor problems.

Creosote Issues

The majority of odor problems inside of your chimney are usually cause by one of three sources. One of the sources is the wood you yourself are burning. An incomplete and incorrect combustion of oils inside of the wood occurs when you burn wood at too low of a temperature, which effectively released those oils into the smoke as volatiles. As smoke begins to ascent into your chimney, the temperature of both the air and the smoke begins to drop, which causes the all of the water, carbon, and volatiles in the smoke to group together and layer themselves on the top layer of bricks inside your chimney. This is more commonly known as creosote, and after it starts to gather together inside the chimney, it also decreases the diameter of your chimney flue which restricts the amount of air that gets to your fire, ultimately forcing it to burn at a lower than desired temperature, which only adds to the production of creosote inside your chimney. This is a small issue that could easily grow into a very serious problem, and it should be handled as quickly as possible to ensure there isn’t a chimney fire as a result of this. It’s understandable that creosote is the main cause for nearly all chimney fires. Creosote’s acidity is also able to erode the mortar in-between the bricks inside of your chimney, effectively separating the bricks from each other, making your chimney extremely unstable. The best way to manage creosote is to have your chimney cleaned regularly.

Over time if you leave your chimney unswept, the creosote inside of your chimney will be absorbed into the exposed face of the masonry work, allowing the odor to spread to the inside of the bricks, and throughout your entire chimney. The damage done to your bricks during this process is often irreversible, so the only way to ensure that the odor is removed is to completely reconstruct your chimneys. Even if you have your chimney swept by a trained and certified technician, it will only be able to remove the creosote from the top layer of the bricks, leaving behind the residue built up inside of your bricks and mortar. The only way to guarantee your chimney stays completely odor free is to be sure to have your chimney swept often and very thoroughly. This is why all of our technicians will not only give your chimney a complete sweep, but they will also provide a thorough inspection after the sweep to make sure no creosote was missed. Creosote buildup also has the potential to create health concerns for you and your family, as creosote is a known carcinogen.

Animal Issues

Animals are also a known cause of chimney odors. Without anyone ever knowing, animals can build a nest and live inside of your chimney for nearly half a year. Since your chimney doesn’t see as much activity during the warm months of summer, there’s even a higher chance of not noticing animals living in it. And when those months fade, and the colder ones set in, they will be looking for a warm area to stay away from the cold, just like your chimney. But of course, when you set a fire below, they will try and evacuate the chimney, but since they nest so far down inside of the chimney, they often times won’t make it out. This can cause even more serious odor problems inside of your home due to the decomposing of the body left behind. Even the animals that were able to leave your chimney will still be the cause of odor problems for you, because if they were living there then their droppings will begin to cause serious odor problems, even more so if there is a fire below.

Raccoons and chimney swifts are the most common animals that are known to do this, but there is an endless list of animals that have this ability. While any animal living in your home can present a serious health risk, if you have chimney swifts, or any other kind of bird nesting inside of your chimney, then the risk to your family’s health is only amplified. The reason behind this, is the chance of histoplasmosis, a serious and sometimes life threatening disease that comes from a bacteria named ‘Histoplasma Capsulatum’, which is found inside of materials that have had bird droppings on top of them. Being that their droppings have been proven to help transmit this deadly disease, their presence near you and your family should be handled immediately.

Issues Caused By Improper Draft

All smells inside of your chimney, no matter if they’re from animals or creosote, can be significantly magnified by an improper draft from your chimney. When the air comes down your chimney, and into your house through the mouth of the fireplace, it will bring the odor that is in your chimney along with it. The primary reason for an improper draft is that the air inside your home is warmer than the air that’s outside your home. Warm air can go up through the top of your chimney or seep through gaps or cracks in your ceiling, and as it does this, it is replaced with cooler air that flows down your chimney. The simplest way to prevent a draft from happening and to prevent the odor from entering inside of your house is by stopping the air from coming down your chimney. By adding a lock-top damper to the top of your chimney, you will see the draft stop immediately, and it will give you the ability to open and close your chimney top with a lever located inside of your fireplace. By doing this, the chimney can remain closed when there is no fire burning, preventing air from entering or escaping. Additionally, a lock-top damper will prevent anything from entering your chimney without you knowing about it while the top of it is closed. It is also easy to use when you want to use your fireplace. When you would like to start a fire, simply pull on the lever inside of your fireplace prior to igniting the flames. While this won’t remove the creosote that is already present inside of your chimney, it will prevent excess odors from entering your home.

If you have any questions regarding odor problems, or any of the chimney services we provide, feel free to contact us at 866-345-4751, and we will be more than happy to assist you with information for your specific situation. Our entire staff is more than capable of handling any question, involving any chimney problem, and they will walk you through all of your concerns involving your chimney. And remember, often times a chimney odor problem is the warning sign of a serious problem to come, like animal infestation, or eroding creosote, so call a professional today, and make sure your chimney is safe. The staff in our offices are here to answer your questions every day of the week, or if you prefer, you can use the form that we’ve placed on our contact us page. Call your chimney odor specialists today at 866-345-4751 or email us!