Few places can be as cozy and visually pleasant as a fireplace. Smells may come out from your chimney naturally, like the soft essence of wood. However, foul odors can sneak into your house by the fireplace for several reasons. Luckily, the majority of cases can be solved by professionals in chimney repair Chicago service. Chicago has the best inspection service at Delta Chimneys. Our contractors can spot and correct the issues at once. In this post we present you some findings that might be the culprit of the bad smell coming from your fireplace.

Negative air pressure

Among the most common causes of smell coming from a fireplace is negative air pressure, which often happens in summer, after repairs and enhancement in appliances like vents, fans,  windows and AC. A very hermetic house can cause even the slightest smells to travel inside the house instead of out through the chimney. Some fireplace repairs Chicago contractors often perform to solve this issue are:

  • Make sure the damps stay closed when the chimney is not in use. This won’t be useful if they don’t close hermetically.
  • Set a glass screen for your chimney.
  • Identify the structure that causes the air pressure disturbance, and apply outdoor combustion air.
  • Apply a top sealing damper and keep it closed when not in use. They use a chain system that can be handled from your fireplace.

 

Creosote and soot remains

Excess creosote is regularly found in annual chimney inspections Chicago services. Chicago weather may cause chimney overuse that produces too much creosote. This accumulation induces a smell that resembles asphalt or rotten barbecue. It should be removed regularly by professionals.

The difference between creosote and soot is that the first one is produced by the gas resulting from wood combustion, while the latter is the wood itself that hasn’t fully burned. Creosote is a dark mud-like substance, and soot consists of black powder or irregular flakes. You can’t avoid the build-up of these materials, but you can reduce it by clean burning (using low-humidity wood).

Humidity

Water residue accumulation can generate a moldy smell. This can be avoided with a chimney cap and flashing on a chimney. Chicago houses usually have these appliances because otherwise water can get inside and rust the damper. It can also cause damage to the flue lining when mixed with the creosote, and even damage the chimney tuckpointing. Chicago companies can charge a lot for these repairs, so make sure you call Delta Chimneys to avoid finding yourself in this situation.

Animals

Keep animals away from your chimney by adding a mesh netting to the cap. Without this appliance, or if it shows flaws, animal feces or even a decomposing animal can be causing the foul odor. Stray animals might find an entrance to your home through the chimney, but they can have trouble getting out.
Dealing with animals requires the hands of professionals in fireplace inspection Skokie service. This area has fauna that can be either dangerous or protected by federal law. Therefore make sure your contractors are fully equipped to deal with this scenario. If you hear birds chirping or find feces, you might have a case of chimney swifts (a type of protected fauna), which will stay for a while, and eventually go away. If you don’t want to deal with it the upcoming year, you better install a cap as soon as possible.

Don’t wait until your fireplace is damaged, contact the professionals at Delta Chimneys to get your chimney and venting system inspected, and any problems found will be fixed at once. Call us today for your annual chimney inspection!