Odd Odors: How to Handle Off-Putting Scents Coming from Your Chimney

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Odd Odors: How to Handle Off-Putting Scents Coming from Your Chimney

Having a fireplace is a great comfort on a cold winter’s evening, but there are related issues that can turn up when you have a chimney hooked to a wood stove or fireplace in your home or business. In addition to regular cleanings and inspections is that you may, on rare occasions, notice an odor or chimney smoke smell in your Rochester home. from your fireplace or chimney. Because chimneys pass from your home’s inside and outside, this can occasionally happen.

Odd Odors: How to Handle Off-Putting Scents Coming from Your Chimney


If you notice a chimney odor, you’ll want to schedule an inspection of your chimney to remove the source. These sources can come from one of three different sources, including:

  • Water: If your chimney cap has blown away or there are cracks in the masonry of your chimney, water is able to get into your chimney’s structure. If you notice water pooling in your fireplace, this is quite possibly the source. It may lead to mold and mildew in your home, so having the chimney repaired is vital to protect your health and home.
  • Creosote: Formed during combustion, creosote is a compound that sticks to the interior of your chimney. It’s a tar-like substance that forms more quickly when you burn wet wood or softwood. It can have a scent that some individuals don’t like but is easily resolved during your annual chimney cleaning.
  • Small animals: A chimney that isn’t in use is a dark, warm, and often dry location that is a perfect habitat for many birds, small animals, and other creatures to call home. Unfortunately, their nest can block your ventilation, keeping smoke from exiting the building. In rare situations, an animal can expire in your chimney, but a thorough cleaning and repairs to your chimney cap can fix the issue. 

When you have an understanding of the possible sources of odd chimney scents, you’ll be better able to understand what to do with the issue if it arises. If you need help with a chimney smoke smell in your house, or need chimney maintenance for your Rochester home, Four Winds Chimney’s specialists can help with these issues. Why not call us today to see how we can help you get your chimney back to normal?

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