Top-sealing damper
A damper that seals with a gasket replaces a leaky throat damper which also reduces heat loss.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Odor Removal Somerdale, NJ
A chimney sweep in Somerdale can get rid of a smoky, musty or rotten chimney smell by cleaning the flue and fixing whatever lets the smell drift indoors. Call (856) 344-1158 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Creosote is behind most chimney odors, and the smell tends to peak on muggy days when the fireplace is not even in use. 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.
The smell only reaches the room because air is flowing down the flue instead of up. Kitchen and bath exhaust fans, clothes dryers and a tight, well-sealed house can create negative pressure that draws air down an unused flue. A throat damper that does not seal well lets that air through. Many sweeps recommend a top-sealing damper for this reason.
A musty or sour smell points to water rather than creosote. Rain coming down an uncapped flue, a cracked crown or leaky flashing mixes with soot and can grow mold on damp masonry. That kind of odor will not go away until the leak is fixed and the masonry dries out.
Chimney Odor Removal is often paired with chimney cleaning and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Need chimney odor removal in Somerdale? Call (856) 344-1158 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The odor removal process
The fix depends on whether the smell comes from creosote, water or an animal.
Pin down the cause
The chimney is checked from the firebox and the roof to find where the odor starts. A camera may be used to look up the flue.
Clean the flue
The flue, smoke chamber and smoke shelf are swept to remove creosote and soot. Removing the buildup takes care of most creosote smells.
Take out remains
Any animal or nest found inside is taken out, with timing set by the type of animal. If chimney swifts are nesting, removal waits until they leave for the season.
Apply a deodorizer
The masonry is treated to neutralize what sweeping cannot reach. Some odors fade over several days afterward.
Stop the airflow
The final step addresses why the smell got into the room. Negative pressure in the house may also need attention.
What is included
What chimney odor removal covers
Odor treatment
Odor that soaked into the firebox or smoke chamber is neutralized to finish what the cleaning started.
Animal removal
Nests, droppings and remains are removed with timing that respects nesting season.
Chimney sweeping
Deposits that hold the odor are cleared so the main source of the smell is gone.
Leak repair
Caps, crowns and flashing are repaired so rain stops reaching the flue to stop moisture odor at the source.
Related service
Fireplace Odor Removal Somerdale, NJ
A fireplace that smells is often holding old ash, soot on the walls or debris on the smoke shelf. 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 Somerdale can speed things up by noting whether the smell gets worse after rain or on hot days. Any rotten egg smell near a gas fireplace calls for leaving the house and calling the gas utility or 911 from outside, without using switches or flames. Carbon monoxide has no smell at all, so working CO alarms on every level of the home matter even when the fireplace smells fine.
Local help
Chimney Odor Removal Near Me
In Somerdale, plenty of homeowners first notice a chimney smell on the first muggy days after the heating season ends. Homes in Somerdale and nearby towns like Magnolia, Stratford, Echelon and Lawnside that burn wood all winter build up the creosote that causes most of these odors, which is why a cap and a good damper are often part of the fix.
Searching for chimney odor removal near me from Somerdale or Magnolia, Stratford, Echelon and Lawnside? Call (856) 344-1158 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Somerdale is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Somerdale
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Somerdale and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney odor removal
Why does my fireplace smell worse when it is hot out?
Humid summer air draws the odor out of creosote and soot left in the flue. Negative pressure in the home pulls the smell past the damper. A sweeping at the end of the burning season, plus a tighter damper, usually solves it.
How do I get rid of a chimney smell?
Start by removing the source, which usually means a full sweeping of the flue and smoke shelf. After sweeping, a deodorizing product handles what is left in the brick. To keep the smell from returning, the chimney may need a cap, a better damper or a fix for leaks.
Why does my fireplace smell damp after it rains?
A damp or musty odor usually means water is getting into the chimney. Wet masonry can also grow mold and mildew. A cap, crown repair or breathable water repellent is the usual fix.
Should I worry about a smoky smell from my fireplace?
The odor is mainly a comfort issue, though heavy creosote is a fire risk worth removing. A gas or rotten egg smell is different: leave the house, avoid switches and flames and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Keep CO alarms working, since carbon monoxide cannot be smelled.
What does it smell like when an animal dies in a chimney?
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.
More questions? Call (856) 344-1158
Often needed together
Chimney Cleaning
Cleaning the flue, smoke chamber and firebox of masonry and factory-built chimneys, so the flue drafts well and burns safely.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Removing birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from fireplace and stove chimneys, then capping the top so they cannot return.
Learn moreCreosote Removal
Removing flaky, crunchy and glazed creosote from chimney flues before it can fuel a chimney fire.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney odor removal in Somerdale, NJ?
Call now for Somerdale chimney odor removal and help in the towns around it.
(856) 344-1158
Free to call. No forms to fill out.