Expert: James Ball - 1/5/2009

Question
I have been reading about a bad smell coming from the fire place when not in use I have the same problem but I have a wood burning stove in my fire place so there is no way to close the damper and cut off the air flow coming down my chimney, I have my chimney cleaned every summer but it hasn't helped with the smell, I put a new chimney cap on thinking it was the rain getting down my chimney making things wet, but that doesn't explain why it smells in the summer. How do I get rid of this smell it is driving me and my wife crazy. Thanks

Answer
What is happening is you are getting Negative Pressure in your home that is hot air raising in your home (and getting out through the attic vents, doors, lights) your house is a better chimney than your chimney. Also kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, cloths dryers and the furnace all take house air out of the house (mechanical negative pressure) your house needs make up air, perhaps a open window in the basement? Or stop the air from getting out the attic and other area’s. perhaps a new wood stove with a damper?
Trail and error until you get this wood stove to work for you, maybe close off the room from the rest of the house to use it (close doors)
Or it could be dirty? I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have.
James