Chimney deodorizing
Odor that soaked into the firebox or smoke chamber is neutralized to finish what the cleaning started.
Chimney Sweeping
Chimney Odor Removal Northbrook, IL
A chimney sweep in Northbrook can get rid of a smoky, musty or rotten chimney smell with a cleaning, a deodorizing treatment and a repair for the real cause. Dial (224) 458-2675 to talk with a local sweep about the smell.
A fireplace that smells like a campfire or an old ashtray almost always has creosote in the flue, and summer humidity makes it stronger. Humidity draws the odor out of the deposits, and the smell drifts into the room through the damper. A thorough sweeping removes most of it, and a deodorizing treatment can take care of what soaks into the masonry.
Air moving down the chimney is the other half of the problem. 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.
When the odor is damp and musty, water is usually involved. Water from a missing cap, cracked crown or failed flashing soaks the soot and the brick, and the result smells like a wet basement. That kind of odor will not go away until the leak is fixed and the masonry dries out.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Northbrook chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cleaning or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Northbrook chimney odor removal? Call (224) 458-2675 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney odor removal
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. That diagnosis decides the rest of the work.
Sweep the chimney
The flue, smoke chamber and smoke shelf are swept to remove creosote and soot. Removing the buildup takes care of most creosote smells.
Clear nests
Dead animals and nest material are cleared so the smell has no source left. Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests can only be removed after nesting season, and the sweep will advise on timing.
Deodorize the masonry
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. Glass doors on the fireplace can help too.
What is included
Common odor fixes
Damper upgrade
Airflow down the flue is cut with a tighter damper so odors stay in the chimney.
Leak repair
Caps, crowns and flashing are repaired so rain stops reaching the flue so the masonry can dry out.
Chimney sweeping
The flue, smoke chamber and smoke shelf are swept from the firebox to the cap.
Animal removal
Animals and their debris are cleared from the flue so the rotten smell stops.
Related service
Fireplace Odor Removal Northbrook, IL
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.
If you are in Northbrook, it helps to mention when the smell started and whether it changes with the weather. A smell of rotten eggs or gas from a gas fireplace is not a chimney odor problem, so leave the house without touching switches or lighting anything and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. 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
Around Northbrook, a fireplace that was fine all winter can start to smell once warm, damp weather arrives. Homes in Northbrook and nearby towns like Deerfield, Glenview, Northfield and Glencoe that burn wood all winter build up the creosote that causes most of these odors, and the cause is usually simple to find once a sweep looks.
For chimney odor removal in Northbrook, IL or nearby towns like Deerfield, Glenview, Northfield and Glencoe, call (224) 458-2675 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Northbrook chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Northbrook and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Odor Removal questions
Why does my fireplace smell damp after it rains?
Water mixing with soot and ash is the most common cause of a damp fireplace smell. Damp brick and debris can develop mold over time. Fixing the leak and letting the chimney dry out is what stops the smell.
Should I worry about a smoky smell from my fireplace?
The smell is not the main danger, but the buildup causing it can catch fire. A gas or rotten egg smell is different: leave the house, avoid switches and flames and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. Odor is no guide to carbon monoxide, which is why CO alarms matter.
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. If the house is pulling air down the chimney, that smell comes right into the room. Removing the deposits and stopping the downdraft takes care of most summer odors.
What is the best way to remove fireplace odor?
Getting rid of the smell starts with cleaning out the deposits that hold it. A chimney deodorizer can then treat odor that soaked into the masonry. Then stop air and water from coming down the flue with a cap, a top-sealing damper or leak repairs.
What does it smell like when an animal dies in a chimney?
A dead bird, squirrel or raccoon in the flue or on the smoke shelf produces a strong, rotten odor that gets worse over days. The remains need to be removed from the flue or smoke shelf before any deodorizer will work. A chimney cap afterward keeps animals from getting in again.
More questions? Call (224) 458-2675
Other services that may help
Chimney Cleaning
Sweeping soot and creosote out of fireplace and stove chimneys of every kind, to cut the risk of a chimney fire.
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
Clearing animals and nesting material out of fireplace and stove chimneys, then capping the top so they cannot return.
Learn moreCreosote Removal
Breaking down and clearing creosote buildup of every stage with brushes, rotary tools or chemical treatments.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney odor removal in Northbrook, IL?
Call (224) 458-2675 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Northbrook, IL.
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