We have had enough rain in the Chicagoland area to last us the rest of the spring and summer season! Although the grass got greener quite quickly and the tulips are at its peak, not everything is smelling fresh and new. It’s the fireplace smoke smell.
This past week, family came into town for a visit. We were sitting in the kitchen having some food and drink when a family member asked, “Do you have a smoker?” Obviously, others can smell it, but nobody else said anything. Great, how does a problem like this get fixed?
What is Happening?
The problem is air coming down the chimney. The fireplace smoke smell family noticed? It’s being carried down through the chimney and right into the living space. As air moves down through the chimney, it brings the inner chimney odor along with it. It is likely that the poor chimney is victim of a negative pressure problem.
What causes that pressure shift? More than you’d expect. Here are the most common culprits:
- An inefficient or worn damper that won’t close fully
- A new furnace, boiler, or water heater recently installed
- New windows or doors that tightened up the house
- A home addition that changed the pressure balance
- Changes to roofing ventilation or attic fans
- Kitchen range exhaust fans and dryer vents
- A neighboring building that went up taller than yours
Any one of these can flip the pressure dynamics in your home. Your chimney becomes a convenient air intake instead of an exhaust. And it brings the smell along for the ride.
Summer Is Usually the Worst
Most people notice fireplace smells in warmer months. There’s a reason for it. Heat and humidity amplify creosote odors already sitting in the flue. Add in a running air conditioner, which pulls air inward, and the negative pressure gets worse. The smell gets pushed right into your living area.
You might also notice it when running the kitchen fan or clothes dryer. Both exhaust air outside, then make-up air is pulled from wherever the house can. Sometimes that’s your chimney.
Can a Damper Help?
A top-mounted, energy-sealing damper can make a real difference. Unlike a standard damper, it seals at the very top of the chimney. That cuts off much of the airflow coming down before it ever reaches the living space.
Get a Diagnosis with a Certified Chimney Sweep
Fireplace pressure issues can be complicated. They involve airflow patterns, pressure differentials, and how your chimney interacts with the rest of your home. It’s not something most homeowners can diagnose on their own.
The National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is a community of professionals that lead the chimney and venting industry, with members promoting the highest level of safety, integrity, and skill when serving homeowners. The NCSG even offers specialized House Pressure Training — known as the HAM House program — specifically because pressure-related chimney problems are that complex and increasingly more common.
A Superior Chimney CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technician can assess your chimney, pinpoint the exact cause of the fireplace smoke smell, and give you a real fix that lasts. Contact Superior Chimney today to get the smells out and buy a real smoker. 877-244-6349