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Smelly Chimney

A smelly chimney is an embarrassing and frustrating problem; there is no denying those facts. Usually, it’s a chimney that has not been cleaned in some time that develops an odor; in other cases, it may be biological in nature. It takes a trained expert to determine what is causing the smell in your chimney.

In many cases, an air conditioner may pull air from the top of the chimney into the whole house, making the problem much worse. Aside from being embarrassing, a smelly chimney can be dangerous for a few reasons. Let’s look further into what causes a smelly chimney and what can be done to rectify it.

chimney leak water damage, woodland park COCauses of a Smelly Chimney

There are a few causes of a smelly chimney, some minor, some hazardous. The most common cause of a smelly chimney and potentially the most dangerous is a buildup of creosote which can cause chimney fires. Creosote is generated when logs are burned in a fireplace. If you don’t have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis, then you are risking the buildup of creosote and a chimney fire. Simply cleaning your chimney will rid your home of the smell of excess creosote.

Another hazardous material that can build up in your chimney is mold, often along with mildew. Mold can be harmful to everyone in your home, especially those with asthma or allergies. A moldy or mildewy smell coming from your chimney is usually caused by a leak or leaks somewhere on the inside or outside of your chimney or from the lack of a chimney cap. Repairing leaks such as in the crown or mortar or adding a chimney cap along with the cleaning of your chimney by qualified chimney sweeps will rid your home of the smell.

The third cause of a smelly chimney may be the most disturbing source, even if it is not hazardous. In the winter months, animals may climb into your chimney looking for warmth; in the spring, they may be looking for a place to nest. Occasionally when an animal gets inside a chimney, it can’t find its way out and dies in the chimney producing a foul smell. It is simple for an experienced chimney sweep to remove a dead animal from your chimney, but that may not rid it of the stench left behind. A thorough cleaning of your chimney is required to get rid of lingering odors caused by a dead animal.

chimney smells in colorado springs coWhat Should I do About My Smelly Chimney?

To really understand what is causing your chimney to smell, an inspection is needed. Our chimney sweeps are Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA) certified, and we are members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, so we know how to inspect your chimney. We can determine if it is one or multiple issues causing your chimney to smell.

FlameMaster Knows How to Fix a Smelly Chimney.

If you have an unpleasant smell emanating from your chimney and want to remove it, we can handle the job. We will quickly find the source of the smell and eliminate the problem. We will treat your house as if it were our own and clean up when we are done. Don’t put up with an unpleasant odor anymore; get in contact with us today. FlameMaster provides chimney repair & inspection services in Woodland Park CO, Colorado Springs CO, Divide CO, Manitou Springs CO, Cripple Creek CO, and Victor CO; if you have an embarrassing smelly chimney, call us now at (719) 661-3277 one of our knowledgeable and friendly staff will be happy to set up a time where we can inspect your chimney and find the source of your chimney’s smell.