Have you ever spent any time in the Nashville area during the summer? If so, you know how hot and humid it can be. The high humidity levels can be overwhelming at times! When the weather is so hot and sticky that you cannot stop sweating, your fireplace and chimney are probably the furthest things from your mind. However, you could be rudely reminded of them by unpleasant chimney odors drifting into your home. Every summer, Ashbusters gets many calls from our customers with stinky chimneys who need our help. We would like to tell you about a couple of the causes behind these bad smells. Also, how we can make your home smell clean and fresh again.
CREOSOTE
When you have a wood-burning fireplace, creosote is a fact of life. This natural compound develops as the byproducts of combustion exit out of the cooler upper chimney and transform into a sticky residue whenever condensation occurs. You may already know how dangerous creosote can be! The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has named it as a leading cause of chimney fires. Not only is creosote highly flammable, but it also has a very strong odor. High humidity levels can make this odor even stronger. The best way to avoid this problem and keep your home smelling fresh during the summer? Schedule your annual chimney sweeping in the spring to have all of the creosote removed from your chimney.
BIRDS AND ANIMALS
Unfortunately, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals will choose to nest inside chimneys when they cannot find a suitable tree. This creates the risk of fire hazards, insect infestations, and chimney damage. In addition, there is the possibility of an animal getting trapped inside the flue. If an animal were to become stuck inside your chimney, the most likely result is that animal dying. This could be a very stinky situation! To prevent this possibility from ever occurring, you need to have a chimney cap professionally installed on top of your chimney. This will keep the birds, squirrels, and raccoons from being able to get inside. Ashbusters can show you the best chimney caps with mesh metal siding that prevent animal invasions. A chimney cap will also keep water and leaves (another chimney odor source) out of the flue.
Keep your home smelling sweet this summer. Contact us at Ashbusters to schedule your annual chimney maintenance appointment today. You can trust us to make sure your chimney will not be the source of unpleasant odors over the humid summer months!