![]() ![]() If you are able to find it by touching the walls of your chimney, you need to contact a chimney sweep right away. You Find Creosote Inside Your Chimney On Your OwnĬreosote is a dark, greasy and tar-like substance that smells like charred food or fuel. The damper is designed to prevent this, so take action once you notice smoke inside your home. You notice smoke coming from your fireplace.This could be due to weak air flow or obstructions but is also a sign of a broken damper. Some other signs that your damper is broken include the following. If you are having difficulty opening or closing it, there may be an existing issue with your chimney.īroken dampers allow soot and creosote to build up inside of your chimney and it is impossible to know for how long the problem has existed once you discover it. The damper is what makes sure air is able to flow through the chimney. While creosote gives off a charred scent, other obstructions or debris may produce foul odors too.įoul odors may be due to the presence of any of the following. If you notice that your fires do not burn as efficiently, your fireplace is producing more smoke, or a foul odor is produced when you burn wood, you should contact a professional chimney sweep to assess the cause of your problems. There is a Change in Fire QualityĪ chimney that is free of obstructions or creosote allows for a pleasant fire. If you hear any sounds coming from inside or near your fireplace, you should hire someone to inspect your fireplace to rule out the presence of animal nests or bodies. Mildew buildup, dead foliage, and animal corpses can diminish the quality of your fires and pose a hazard if they interfere with the natural flow of air through your fireplace and chimney.Ī season change increases the risk because animals often search for different shelters and the weather brings with it new debris and more leaves. If you have not used your fireplace for a while, it is possible that leaves, debris or animals have found their way into your chimney while it was not in use. Pay attention to the following signs so that you know just when it is time to have a professional inspection or repair. Since many chimney fires are undetected or unreported, it is possible you’ve already had one.ĭepending on how frequently you use your fireplace, you may need to perform maintenance more regularly. Hiring a chimney sweep to inspect your chimney at least once per year will ensure that your chance of becoming a statistic will remain low. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America, there are an estimated 22,300 reported chimney fires in the United States every year.
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