Expert: Bart Ogden - 3/3/2010

Question
We have a 2 masonry flues (fireplace on main floor and woodstove in basement).  When the woodstove is not in use (cold)we have a terrible strong odor of creosote and smoke that permeates our whole house but of course is worse in basement.  we do have a chimney cap on top of flue.  we have been told to install a stainless steel liner and then was told by another this would not help. our house is only three years old and the chimney was cleaned last year but smell did not improve.

Answer
Hi Ronald,

Sounds like you have a pressure imbalance in the home that is causing air to be pulled down the basement flue.  

I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep who has pressure testing experience and equipment to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem.

He or she should scan the interior of both flues to verify the integrity of both liners, then perform the pressure testing procedures.

If air is coming INTO your home (which it is, that's why you're getting the odor) air must be LEAVING your home.  The key is to find out where it's going out, then treat the house as a system to determine how to balance it.  You MAY need to call a HVAC company as well to determine if the ductwork in your home is properly balanced.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice 316-265-9828
Fax 316-265-9890
www.HomeSafeKS.com

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep #2653
CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician #10
NFI Certified Wood Specialist
NFI Certified Gas Specialist
NFI Certified Pellet Specialist
NFI Master Hearth Professional
NCSG Technical Advisory Council Member

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