Santa's Friend Chimney Service

Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

How to Eliminate Chimney Odors

At the height of winter or summer, many people may begin to notice unpleasant chimney odors coming from their fireplaces. These odors can be caused by a number of different issues and, in addition to being unpleasant, they can be dangerous. If a horrible smell is lurking from your chimney, steps should be taken immediately to address and fix the problem.

Chimney Odor - Jackson MS - Santa's Friend Chimney

Many homeowners are inclined to simply light a candle or plug in an air freshener when they notice unpleasant chimney odors. Although this may make things seem better at first, it is a temporary solution to a long term problem. These items may cover up the smell for a time, but they do nothing to actually eliminate it.

The best way to eliminate odors from the chimney is to have it professionally inspected. A trained professional will be able to pinpoint the exact cause of the odor. They will then come up with a solution that will eliminate that particular issue for good rather than simply making it go away for the time being.

Preventative measures can be taken to prevent an odor problem altogether. Annual chimney cleaning should be a priority for anyone who has a fireplace in their home. Instead of waiting until there is an issue, have an annual cleaning at the beginning or end of fireplace season to keep the fireplace and chimney in good condition.

Everyone loves the smell of logs burning in the winter, but make sure that the smells coming from your chimney are normal and safe. Make it a point to maintain your chimney on an annual basis. Instead of simply covering up unpleasant smells with candles and sprays, hire a professional who can take care of the problem for good.

By Jim Robinson on May 27th, 2013 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment

Getting Your Chimney Ready for Maintenance

If you have ready any of our posts, you know we recommend that you have your chimney and fireplace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. Doing so ensures that your chimney is safe to operate and that the structure is sound both inside and out. However, before you have a professional chimney sweep come into your home, there are a few things you need to do to make sure your chimney is ready for maintenance.

Getting your chimney ready for maintenance

  1. The chimney and fireplace should not be used at least 24 hours prior to any maintenance. This ensures that the fireplace and chimney have properly cooled before the technician performs their tasks.
  2. The area around your fireplace may need to be cleaned. By this we mean move your photos and such off the mantle to avoid them getting dirty or broken. While chimney sweeps take the greatest care in protecting all homes they work in, there is no need to invite and accident to happen.
  3. Clear out the immediate area around the chimney so the sweep has plenty of space in which to work. If you have chairs or other furniture within about six feet of the fireplace, just move it to the side to allow plenty of space for the technician.
  4. Once the chimney sweep arrives in your home, ask them any questions you may have about the process and what they will be doing. You are also encouraged to sit in the background and watch them work. This often serves as an education for the homeowner in that they can learn basic maintenance tasks from the sweep.
  5. When the cleaning is done, go over any procedures again with the sweep of which you are unsure. For instance, if you want to know the best way to sweep out the chimney, demonstrate it in front of the sweep to ensure you are following the safest procedures.
By Jim Robinson on January 11th, 2013 | Tagged with: Tags: , , | Leave a Comment