Chimney deodorizing
Odor that soaked into the firebox or smoke chamber is neutralized so the room stops smelling of smoke.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Odor Removal DuBois, PA
A smelly chimney in DuBois is usually caused by creosote, moisture or an animal, and the odor goes away once a sweep removes the source and stops air from pulling it into the room instead of masking it with air fresheners. Call (814) 913-0171 to reach a local chimney sweep.
A fireplace that smells like a campfire or an old ashtray almost always has creosote in the flue, and summer humidity makes it stronger. Moist air releases the smell from soot and creosote, and it finds its way past the damper into the house. Removing the deposits is step one, and a deodorizing product handles the lingering odor.
Air moving down the chimney is the other half of the problem. In a tight house, every exhaust fan pulls a little air down the chimney, along with the smell. A throat damper that does not seal well lets that air through. A top-sealing damper, which closes at the top of the flue with a rubber gasket, cuts that airflow much more effectively.
When the odor is damp and musty, water is usually involved. Water that gets into a chimney mixes with ash and debris and keeps the masonry damp. That kind of odor will not go away until the leak is fixed and the masonry dries out.
Many chimney odor removal calls in DuBois also turn up a need for chimney cleaning or chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in DuBois, PA right now? Call (814) 913-0171 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in DuBois.
Call nowThe process
How chimney odor removal works
Here is how a sweep usually tracks down and removes a chimney odor.
Diagnose the smell
The type of smell and when it appears point toward creosote, water or an animal. A camera may be used to look up the flue.
Clean the flue
Creosote and debris are cleared from the flue and the shelf behind the damper. Most of the odor leaves with the deposits.
Clear nests
Dead animals and nest material are cleared so the smell has no source left. If chimney swifts are nesting, removal waits until they leave for the season.
Deodorize the masonry
For odor that soaked into the brick, a deodorizer made for chimneys is used. It works best on a freshly swept chimney.
Seal the flue
The final step addresses why the smell got into the room. Without this step, the smell often returns.
What is included
What chimney odor removal covers
Leak repair
A vapor-permeable water repellent can keep brick from soaking up rain which ends the musty smell.
Animal removal
Nests, droppings and remains are removed so the rotten smell stops.
Creosote removal
Deposits that hold the odor are cleared from the firebox to the cap.
Damper upgrade
A damper that seals with a gasket replaces a leaky throat damper which also reduces heat loss.
Related service
Fireplace Odor Removal DuBois, PA
Getting rid of a fireplace smell starts with the firebox and smoke shelf, since leftover ash and debris there hold a lot of the odor. Ash, soot on the firebox walls and debris on the shelf all come out during the cleaning. In the meantime, an open box of baking soda in the firebox and a closed damper may help a little.
Homeowners in DuBois can speed things up by noting whether the smell gets worse after rain or on hot days. If the smell is like rotten eggs, treat it as a possible gas leak: get out, do not flip switches or use flames, and call the gas company or 911 once you are outside. Remember that carbon monoxide is odorless, so CO alarms are the only reliable warning.
Local help
Chimney Odor Removal Near Me
In DuBois, plenty of homeowners first notice a chimney smell on the first muggy days after the heating season ends. Across DuBois and communities nearby including Sandy, Treasure Lake, Punxsutawney and Brookville, tighter, newer homes with strong exhaust fans can pull chimney air indoors more than older drafty houses, so a sweep at the end of the burning season can head off summer odors.
Searching for chimney odor removal near me from DuBois or Sandy, Treasure Lake, Punxsutawney and Brookville? Call (814) 913-0171 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around DuBois
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in DuBois is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in DuBois know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Odor Removal FAQ
Can a dead animal in the chimney cause a smell?
A sudden, sickly sweet or rotten smell is a typical sign of an animal that died in the chimney. Removing the animal is the only way to end the smell. Capping the flue is the best prevention.
What does a musty chimney smell mean?
A damp or musty odor usually means water is getting into the chimney. Wet masonry can also grow mold and mildew. The odor will not go away until the water is stopped.
Is a chimney smell dangerous?
A creosote smell itself is mostly an unpleasant nuisance, but the creosote behind it is fuel for a chimney fire. Any gas smell means getting out of the house first and calling the gas utility or 911 from outside. Carbon monoxide has no smell, so CO alarms are the real safeguard.
Why does my fireplace smell worse when it is hot out?
Creosote in the flue gives off a stronger smell in hot, humid weather. Exhaust fans and air conditioning can draw air down the flue and carry the odor inside. A sweeping at the end of the burning season, plus a tighter damper, usually solves it.
What is the best way to remove fireplace odor?
The first step is having the chimney swept, since creosote and debris cause most odors. A chimney deodorizer can then treat odor that soaked into the masonry. To keep the smell from returning, the chimney may need a cap, a better damper or a fix for leaks.
More questions? Call (814) 913-0171
Often needed together
Chimney Cleaning
Brushing and vacuuming the buildup from wood-burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts, with the damper, smoke shelf and cap checked along the way.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Clearing animals and nesting material out of the flue, smoke shelf and damper, and cleaning up what they left behind.
Learn moreCreosote Removal
Breaking down and clearing creosote buildup of every stage matched to how hard and thick the deposits are.
Learn more
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Call (814) 913-0171 for a local chimney sweep in DuBois and nearby towns.
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