- The smell of a fireplace in the summer can be caused by a variety of things, including creosote buildup, cigarettes, fireplace residue, or an animal carcass.
- The first step to getting rid of the smell is to have a professional chimney sweep come and clean the chimney.
- You can also try spraying vinegar inside the fireplace to get rid of any lingering odors.
- Finally, put a cap on the chimney to keep out precipitation and animals.
If you have a fireplace in your home, you may notice a smell coming from it during the summer months. This is because the chimney is not being used and the air inside is stagnant.
To get rid of the smell, you will need to do a thorough cleaning of the chimney. You may also need to install an air freshener or deodorizer to keep the smell from coming back.
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What Makes a Fireplace Stink In The Summer?
The main reason why fireplaces smell during the summer is because of the lack of use. When a fireplace is not being used, the air inside becomes stagnant and starts to stink. This is because there is no draft to push the air out of the chimney.
The stagnant air will also intensify the smell of any debris or creosote that is inside the chimney. The chimney comes into contact with the humid outside air. This makes the acid from the creosote worse. It makes a smell that can go through your whole house.
What to do if your fireplace smells in the summer
If you have a fireplace that smells bad in the summer, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the smell.
First, hire a professional chimney technician to come and perform an annual chimney sweeping and safety inspection.
This will remove any creosote or debris that is blocking the chimney and causing the smell.
Cleaning the chimney
Cleaning the chimney itself will also help to remove the smell. You can do this by shoveling out the ashes at the end of the season and placing them in a non-flammable container. You should also wear a disposable breathing mask to avoid inhaling particles.
Deodorizing
Deodorizing the chimney with vinegar or a commercial fireplace deodorizer can also help to remove the smell. To do this, spray the inside of the fireplace with a 1:1 blend of vinegar and water. You can also set out bowls of vinegar around the room to absorb the odor.
Closing the flue
When you are not using the fireplace, be sure to close the flue (the damper) to reduce odors and keep cool air inside your home. Make sure that the damper has a tight seal and is top-mounted with a chain to control its opening and closing.
Putting a cap on the chimney
Putting a cap on the chimney will also help to keep out precipitation and stop animals from nesting inside. This can be done by a professional or you can purchase a chimney cap from your local hardware store.
How I dealt with my smelly summer fireplace
I always look forward to spending the summer at my lake house. It’s a beautiful, serene spot that’s perfect for relaxing and getting away from it all. This year, however, I discovered that my fireplace was giving off a terrible smell. I wasn’t sure what was causing it, but it was definitely unpleasant.
I started by doing some research online to see if I could figure out what was going on. I read that the smell could be caused by a number of things, including cigarettes, fireplace residue, or even an animal carcass that had been stuck in the chimney. Yuck! I didn’t know which of these was causing the smell, but I knew I needed to take action to get rid of it.
The first thing I did was call a professional chimney sweep to come and clean the chimney. He told me that the smell was likely being caused by creosote buildup, and he cleared out all of the built-up residue inside. He also showed me how to keep the chimney clean in the future so that the smell wouldn’t come back.
Next, I tried spraying vinegar inside the fireplace to get rid of any lingering odors. It seemed to help a little bit, but the smell was still there. I then placed open bowls of vinegar around the room to try to absorb as much of the scent as possible.
Finally, I put a cap on the chimney to keep out precipitation and animals. This seemed to do the trick and finally got rid of the smelly fireplace!
Hi, my name’s Eugene Duke and I love sitting by my fireplace reading a book and sipping on an adult beverage. Do you have a fireplace in your house? I’ll help you figure out the best type and style of fireplace for your home.
