Leaves in the chimney can mean there’s something you need to tend to. However, there are so many beautiful things about Fall. One activity that I love about Fall is when the coyote visits my backyard. I know many have dogs and that can pose a problem, but for this home, all good to go. […]
Chasing Out the Fireplace Smell
Fireplace smell can be an easily fixable problem in the home. Recently, I was at a dinner party with some friends, and upon entering their beautiful home, came an unpleasant smell. It was musty and smelled like a campfire. I remember it being a humid evening in Illinois, (certainly not uncommon), and unfortunately my friends […]
Chimney Odors: An Unhealthy Campfire Like Smell
What are those campfire like smells? We all like a good campfire, but to smell it indoors? Not so much. Campfire like smells, damp, rotting, sulfuric smells, and so on, can be an indication something unusual is going on in your chimney. The smell of a wood burning fireplace can be a comfort to many, […]
Winter Humidity Causes Smelly Chimneys
Smelly chimneys can occur year round, even in winter. Lately, Illinois has been experiencing some high humidity levels. The quantity of water in the air determines the humidity. The air expands up to four or five times its normal size, which is why it’s sometimes hard to breathe in high humidity. Humid air traps in […]
Letter From a New Customer on Fireplace Smoke
Dear Superior Chimney, I’m concerned about the fireplace smoke that came into my family room. With the cooler temperatures, I was excited to get started with the use of my fireplace. Why was the fireplace smoking? And how can I be sure it doesn’t happen again? Answer: These are great questions that many others can […]
Avoid Spring and Summer Chimney Smells
We love our fireplaces. The warmth of the fireplace during the Fall, Winter and into part of Spring is nice and cozy. However, when the temperatures begin to rise, we’re ready to open the windows and enjoy the warmth of the outdoors. However, we get so excited that sometimes we forget to clean up the […]
Plenty of Rain, High Humidity, and You’re Wondering Why the Fireplace Smells
Some homeowners might shrug-off the fireplace smells as most households have air conditioning. If you have the air conditioning on, then the fireplace won’t smell…right? Not so fast. First, glass doors are frequently found in front of the fireplace. How does the fresh air get in there? It doesn’t. Also, let’s say you have a […]
Gas & Woodburning Fireplace Smells
It’s that time of year again when humidity is high and so are the smells. Wood burning fireplaces as well as gas fireplaces can produce a musty smell, dusty smell or even a smokey smell. If you usually get a chimney sweep or a fireplace cleaning in the Fall, you may want to reconsider. Working […]
That’s Not the Smell of Turkey – Where’s the Smoke?
Yesterday, I went to a friend’s house for a ‘dry run’ for Thanksgiving Day. I have never participated in a dry run, so this was new. A ‘dry run’ is more about process and timing and not necessarily taste testing the food. Disappointing, but I think we all got that one down just fine. When […]
If the Musty Smell Isn’t Socks…What Is It?
Fall is a great time to watch college football. We get together with friends, whom all went to different schools, taking turns hosting. Happily, it was not our turn. We all settled into our favorite watching spots. One person is a pacer, one sits VERY close to the flat screen, a couple on the floor, […]