Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Creosote Smell
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RichD
07-08-03, 07:02 PM
I've had a creosote smell coming from my fireplace for a few years now. My house is 20 years old. The chimney is attached to a single story portion of the house. After reading old posts, and other articles, I had the fireplace cleaned and a top sealing damper installed. This would prevent water from entering the flue, and prevent down drafts.
Now that the lower damper is removed to allow for the new top damper control chain, I get more creosote smell than before. The chimney sweep came back and re-cleaned the lower portion of the flue. He left a "deoderizer" in the fireplace. This did not help.
I've read about negative pressure, positive pressure, opening windows, closing windows.... now I'm confused. Can anyone help? :confused:
Now that the lower damper is removed to allow for the new top damper control chain, I get more creosote smell than before. The chimney sweep came back and re-cleaned the lower portion of the flue. He left a "deoderizer" in the fireplace. This did not help.
I've read about negative pressure, positive pressure, opening windows, closing windows.... now I'm confused. Can anyone help? :confused:
Doug Aleshire
07-09-03, 05:35 AM
RichD,
It appears that you have done almost everything but not everything. It may be possible that you still have creosote on the smoke shelf or the chimney liner has cracks in it.
The smoke shelf could be the problem. It helps collect small amounts of rain that may enter the chimney. Considerable creosote deposits may collect here. As you mentioned you have removed the damper below and installed a new one on top. If the shelf was not cleaned properly, there would be increased odor as you have removed this damper and indicated the increased odor. The other issue is that relocating the damper does allow for heated air within the home to escape.
Creosote is corrosive to the flue tiles in the chimney and can cause unpleasant odors in your home. Ideally, the chimney should be swept in the spring time just after the winter burn season is over.
One issue that may be overlooked is that any damage to the chimney liner may create the odor because it has gotten between broken liners and into the brick. Without the use of a video camera, you are unsure of the possibility of seeing any vertical cracks in the clay tile liners. The cracks are only part of the problem. Once cracks, however slight, are evident, the creosote is so corrosive that it can eat away at the bricks and mortar. If this occurs, over time, you can get hairline cracks within the chimney bricks and a downdraft can occur. This air can be pulled from the outside through these and the odor may be stronger than before due to the air pressure difference within the home.
Tuckpopinting may be in order if not brick replacement. Once this is all done, a good sleaer should be applied.
Have someone look at the entire chimney and one that has a camera that can see everything inside the liner, you might be surprised at what you find.
Hope this helps!
It appears that you have done almost everything but not everything. It may be possible that you still have creosote on the smoke shelf or the chimney liner has cracks in it.
The smoke shelf could be the problem. It helps collect small amounts of rain that may enter the chimney. Considerable creosote deposits may collect here. As you mentioned you have removed the damper below and installed a new one on top. If the shelf was not cleaned properly, there would be increased odor as you have removed this damper and indicated the increased odor. The other issue is that relocating the damper does allow for heated air within the home to escape.
Creosote is corrosive to the flue tiles in the chimney and can cause unpleasant odors in your home. Ideally, the chimney should be swept in the spring time just after the winter burn season is over.
One issue that may be overlooked is that any damage to the chimney liner may create the odor because it has gotten between broken liners and into the brick. Without the use of a video camera, you are unsure of the possibility of seeing any vertical cracks in the clay tile liners. The cracks are only part of the problem. Once cracks, however slight, are evident, the creosote is so corrosive that it can eat away at the bricks and mortar. If this occurs, over time, you can get hairline cracks within the chimney bricks and a downdraft can occur. This air can be pulled from the outside through these and the odor may be stronger than before due to the air pressure difference within the home.
Tuckpopinting may be in order if not brick replacement. Once this is all done, a good sleaer should be applied.
Have someone look at the entire chimney and one that has a camera that can see everything inside the liner, you might be surprised at what you find.
Hope this helps!