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When To Call For Repairs: Stinky Smells

There is something special and somewhat comforting about the smell of a wood-burning fire. Even your gas-fuel fireplace can create a clean, cozy scent once you get used to it. The sights sounds and smells of your fireplace are just as important to improving the comfort in your home as the warmth it provides.

So, what happens when you turn on or light up a fire and you are instead greeted by a less-than-pleasant smell. Hopefully, your first instinct is to reach out for chimney repair in Minneapolis, MN and, while you wait for your technician to arrive, you can use the following information to help you determine what might be the cause.

What Does My Fireplace Stink?

We’ve explored why you would want to schedule repairs for a fireplace with a stuck damper, and why you would want to get repairs for a drafty fireplace, but now we want to discuss what the reasons are for a smelly fireplace so you know why should schedule repairs for this too. Trust us, the cause of this issue goes far beyond just lighting a candle and hoping the smell goes away.

Here are some potential causes that may be smelling up your fireplace and your home:

  • Air Pressure Problems: Air pressure plays a huge role in your fireplace’s ability to produce fire and keep you warm. If there is negative air pressure however this will lead to the creation of odors in your home. This is common after a home is sealed or weatherized or the venting is changed—in short, if you switch around the air sealing in your home you may have trouble unless you have a professional to help.
  • Creosote and Soot: Creosote is a tar-like build-up that is created when you burn wood while soot is caused by the incomplete burning of wood. These substances should be removed during an annual chimney inspection but if they aren’t addressed, they will create smells similar to asphalt or a bad barbecue.
  • Moisture: If you don’t have a chimney cap, or your chimney cap is cracked, moisture can get into your chimney. This can lead to odors due to a rusted damper and damaged flue as the moisture can mix with any existing creosote.
  • The Presence of Animals: If there is a bird building a nest atop your chimney or a rat that made the wrong choice and has become a fossil inside your flue, there will be odors involved. These instances can be reduced with netted chimney caps but, if an animal gets into your chimney, you should leave the issue to the pros to handle.
  • Residual Leaves: Moist and decomposing leaves might smell good in layers on the forest floor but they are less than pleasant when they are trapped inside your chimney. If leaves get into your chimney they can present a safety hazard, too.

When your chimney and/or your fireplace is on the fritz, don’t delay. Contact the professionals at 2nd Generations Chimneys, Inc. for repairs now.

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