Imagine sitting near the fireplace with a mug of coffee and your favorite music on while it’s shivering cold outside!
Just thinking about the scenario is enough to make you feel so cozy, right?
But what if your fireplace ends up disappointing you by stinking up the whole house with an unknown odor?
That sounds like a total bummer!!
Well, fireplaces are certainly one of the least cleaned parts of a house because of their position in the house. So it is common to have a stink from there. But sometimes the smell can go so bad – ultimately making it super tough to roam around the house.
So, you must know the reasons behind the stinking chimney and the remedies that can help you to get back your fresh breathing in your house, which you will find in the following discussion.
Why Does the Chimney Smell?
Let’s know the reasons why your fireplace smell so bad.
Animals & Debris
Different animals try to get into the chimneys very often. So, when they enter the vent, unpleasant substances enter with them and remain there even after leaving. As a result, any kind of sticks or leaves they bring inside the vet will create a blockage, which is only in the case of smaller animals.
But in case of the bigger animals like cats or squirrels, they can create a base for themselves. Also, baby animals can get stuck in the chimney. As a result, they make the chimney their home and use it as their bathroom.
A Dead Bird
Any dead animal causes a strong odor if it remains uncleaned for a long time. If it is in your chimney, you will surely have an unbearable strong odor spread around your home.
Sooty Creosote
In the chilly winter months, you won’t notice any problems with these. But when the summer starts to kick in, you will smell burnt creosote suddenly in your living space. When you have clay flue tiles, the creosote particles will then be able to enter the porous surface. This is such a stubborn odor that it may not get cleared, no matter how hard you try.
Stale Air or Humidity
If you have all the windows and doors shut for an extended period, your A/C is not running; it means the ventilation isn’t much great in your house. In these situations, you will end up suffering from a bad odor around your house.
Moisture
Humid, damp air and muggy weather can trigger any odor. But the scent of chimney dampness is specifically recognizable. The musty odor results from unnoticed condensation, and it only worsens over time.
Heating System Imbalance
If your home has an unbalanced airflow, the air pressure can change dramatically, especially in older houses. An unbalanced heating system is a serious issue, yet it is not considered a problem at all. The unsealed cold air that returns from the ducting in your basement can create a bad chimney odor.
How to Get Rid of the Stink of the Chimney?
There are several methods for getting rid of bad fireplace smell. Some require the help of a qualified professional, while others are natural home remedies.
In the sections below, we will show you how each method can help you eliminate the fireplace smell:
1. Charcoal
Lets start with charcoal!
Using charcoal is undoubtedly one of the easiest methods to get rid of the chimney smell in the house. Charcoal can help you to remove this odor from your house. This is a fast and easy approach to reducing the odor from your chimney.
Applying charcoal to your chimney is an easy method. You only need to add charcoal to your firebox. Afterwards, put a bucket in the fireplace, and fill it with charcoal. Ready to use!
Plus, you can also use unused cat litter; it will do the same. But keep in mind it will stop every kind of smell from entering the house through the chimney.
2. Vinegar
Another easy solution for chimney odor is vinegar. You will find vinegar near your hand in kitchens; this natural cure is just as simple as charcoal and functions kind of similarly.
Just combine vinegar and water in equal amounts. Put a spray bottle with the mixture in it. Lastly, spray the area around your fireplace and your home after that. Easy-peasy!
3. Fireplace Deodorant
You can try fireplace deodorant if you are dissatisfied with your own remedies for eliminating chimney odor. With a little effort on your side, these products’ unique mix will indeed help to eliminate the fireplace smell in a marvelous way – ultimately pleasing you in every possible way. In the fireplace deodorant, you will find an opening-covering wick. Raise the wick and insert the bottle into your fireplace to spray it. Your fireplace will smell fresh as new as you have just bought it that too for several months to go.
4. Close your Damper
Next up, we have closing the damper!
It is yet another easiest and effective solutions for the smell coming from your fireplace. You just need to close your damper. The damper seals off your chimney from your living area. Ultimately, stopping outside air from entering your home through your chimney. So, if you keep the damper close, the odor won’t enter your home as simple as that!
5. Waterproof Your Chimney
Moisture can cause bad smells and deterioration of your chimney. Because of this, you should check the waterproof state of your chimney. Otherwise, you will notice that your fireplace smell when it rains, and your chimney has slowly begun to degrade.
If needed, you must get help from a professional at once to make your chimney waterproof so the future slows down. Last but not the least, it will also ensure that there is no more odor in your fireplace.
6. Use an Air Purifier
You can use an air purifier to help you get rid of fireplace scents. It is another common thing at your home. You just require to spray in the chimney area.
Afterwards, you can breathe in more fresh and clean air with the help of the air purifier. They will undoubtedly assist, even though they might not completely remove all dangerous particles from the air.
7. Clean Your Firebox
Ever wondered why my fireplace smells like smoke?
And, how to get rid of this?
It’s actually pretty easy, you just need to keep the burning area clean regularly. But if you don’t take care of your firebox, the stench of the fireplace will fill your house. Your fireplace’s firebox will start to gather soot and ash after a few flame sessions. These things in return can make your house stink. So, you must get rid of these, which is really easy. All you have to do is keep your firebox clean regularly.
To Wrap Up
A bad smell from a fireplace or chimney can make your entire mood spoiled easily at the very beginning of the day. So, you must make sure you are keeping the chimneys and house stink-free as always.
In the above discussion, you have seen what are the main reasons for a stinky fireplace. Hence, you must try to avoid all these and follow the tips as instructed to keep your house smelling fresh and clean like a new leaf forever.