Every summer, Ashbusters gets calls from customers asking for help with smelly chimneys. When your chimney has something within that smells, the heat and high humidity we get in the Nashville area worsens those odors. Add that to the fact that your air conditioning system could be causing a backdraft in your chimney, and your home can easily be invaded by stinky smells in the summer. We have been working on chimneys for over 30 years, and we know what causes these odors and how to solve this smelly problem. We would like to tell you more about how we can help you get your home smelling fresh and clean again.
Chimney Sweeping
If you burn wood in your fireplace or stove, creosote is a fact of life. This natural compound forms during the combustion process of burning wood and sticks to the inner walls of your chimney. Over the winter, creosote can accumulate into large deposits that build up on the interior walls. Creosote is so highly flammable that the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) names it as a leading cause of chimney fires. This is why it is so important to have your chimney professionally swept every year. Not only does creosote create a fire hazard, but it also has a strong, acrid scent that gets worse in the summer because of the heat and humidity. To take care of this problem, Ashbusters recommends scheduling your appointment for your annual chimney sweeping in the spring or summer. This will ensure all of the creosote has been removed from your chimney, which means you will not have to worry about its odor. You will also be ready to use your fireplace in the fall.
Chimney Cap Installation
Without a chimney cap professionally installed on top of your chimney, water from rain can get into your chimney and land on the smoke shelf. If you are noticing a musty odor, you most likely have standing water on your smoke shelf or even in the firebox. Leaves, dirt, and other debris can also fall down into the bottom of the chimney, and when these things mix with the standing water, it can give off a rotting odor. Another problem that can occur without a chimney cap is the invasion of your chimney by birds, squirrels, raccoons, or other wild animals. Often, one of these critters can become trapped and die within your flue. You can imagine the horrible odor a dead animal or bird in your chimney can be. The best way to prevent water and wild animals from entering your chimney is to have a good quality chimney cap that is equipped with mesh metal sides professionally installed on top of your chimney. Ashbusters carries a wide variety of chimney caps, and we can recommend the best one for your chimney and then install it to protect your chimney from water and wild animals.
Don’t let humidity cause chimney odors in your home this summer. Contact us at Ashbusters to keep your chimney and home smelling great!