If you have noticed unpleasant odors coming from your fireplace, there could be several things in your chimney that are causing these smells. These stinky problems happen more often in the 
warmer months of the year, especially when you have weatherized your home to keep the cold air inside. When you have sealed all of the windows and doors in your home, it can create negative air pressure, which affects the chimney draft. Instead of the chimney air being pulled out of your home, it can be forced back inside. In our years of experience in working on chimneys in the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Chimney Services knows exactly what causes chimney odors, and we can solve this problem and make your home smell fresh and clean again. We would like to tell you more about some of the stinky things that could be lurking inside your chimney.
CREOSOTE
The unpleasant odor of burned barbecue is most likely caused by creosote deposits inside your chimney. Creosote can be a major problem because not only does it smell badly, but it is also highly flammable. If the internal temperature of your chimney gets hot enough, those creosote deposits can easily ignite into flames. This is why the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) has named creosote as a leading cause of chimney fires. Since creosote forms naturally during the combustion process of burning wood, regular maintenance is required to keep your chimney safe and odor-free. Blue Ridge Chimney Services can help you with our professional chimney sweeping services. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps will be sure to remove all of the creosote from your chimney to keep it from being an odor source and a fire hazard.
WATER AND ANIMALS
If you are noticing a musty smell, you could have a water leak problem, especially if you do not have a chimney cap installed on the top of your chimney. Without a chimney cap, water from rain and snow can fall down into the chimney to land on the smoke shelf. Over time, that standing water will start to smell badly. Leaves and other debris can also fall down the chimney and mix with the water to create a decomposing odor. An uncapped chimney is also vulnerable to wild animal invasions. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals can get into your chimney, become trapped, and die. You can imagine the unpleasant odor that this situation causes. To keep water and wild animals out of your chimney, Blue Ridge Chimney Services can professionally install a chimney cap on top of your chimney. We offer caps that are equipped with mesh metal sides that prevent wild animals from entering. Your chimney will be protected from damage from water and animals as well.
If you are noticing unpleasant chimney odors, contact us at Blue Ridge Chimney Services. We can inspect your chimney and solve your smelly chimney problems.