Fireplace Smell When It Rains or Humid Weather: How to Get Rid of It

Your fireplace smells when it rains! There is no flower or perfume behind this smell. Just get an annoyance and a sign of a failure of the fireplace. You can get this smell in summer, or when the weather outside is humid, which is unexpected for everyone as a homeowner.

Imagine, it’s raining outside. You sit alone at the window with a cup of coffee or with your family. Thinking about the sweet days of childhood, or sharing a successful plan with others. At that time a bad smell came to your nose! Or suppose, the smell has been around for a long time, now it just caught everyone’s attention! How do you feel?

Your fireplace emits an odor during rainy or humid conditions due to the moisture interacting with creosote deposits. This interaction releases a smoky or musty scent, often noticeable throughout your home.

In the heart of your home, the fireplace, a peculiar phenomenon occurs during periods of rain or high humidity. Moisture in the air mingles with creosote, a byproduct of wood combustion, lining the inner walls of your chimney. This interaction results in the release of a distinct, often unpleasant, aroma.

Creosote is not just responsible for the smoky scent; it can also produce a musty smell. This is particularly noticeable in periods of high humidity or rain, leading to queries like “Why does my house smell during rainy weather?” The musty smell in the fireplace is a result of damp creosote, which can permeate your living space, especially if the fireplace is not regularly cleaned or maintained.

Understanding the cause of these smells is crucial for maintaining a pleasant home environment. Regular chimney cleaning can help reduce creosote buildup, thus minimizing the unpleasant odors during rainy or humid weather.

Also, this is what is happening, and it will happen again. This is because the fireplace installed in your home is now occupied by rain or humid weather outside. They are now optimizing it to their liking, and it has added to some of your indifference, you are now just getting the result.

Why Does Your Fireplace Smell When It Rains or Humid Weather?

There are some logical reasons to get a smell from your fireplace.

First, the flue in your fireplace determines whether the air inside the chimney will enter or leave your room. And the flu is determined by the pressure of the outside air. If the air pressure inside your home is higher than the outside air, the chimney air will go out, along with the smell. You will get the smell only if the opposite happens.

Second, when you burn wood in a fireplace, a deposit of a natural by-product called creosote is deposited in your chimney. You will get a smoky smell from this creosote deposit. It becomes stronger when there is plenty of rain, wind, and humid air than at other times.

Third, the air inside the chimney stinks when the air pressure inside your house is low from the outside. Because in a house that was built fairly as air pressure, when you run a dryer or other exhaust fan or if it is hot, air moves down from the chimney to equalize the pressure, creating a bad odor in your home.

Fourth, when there is a storm or rain outside, the polythene or leaves left inside your chimney can fly away. Many homeowners ignore this or consider it a minor problem. But it can become toxic from freezing for a long time. Later you will get a bad smell from it, especially when you do not use the fireplace.

Fifth, when it rains, many animals, especially birds, and squirrels, take shelter in chimneys to escape danger. When the rain stops, many animals or birds leave it, and some animals make their home in the chimney. It may be that after some birds are trapped, they can no longer get out. They later die in the chimney and spread a foul odor.

Sixth, if your fireplace chimney contains rainwater or water from any other source, you may get an unpleasant sweet smell.

Seventh, if your chimney is not placed or installed properly, snow and rain can cause moisture to accumulate in the chimney and start to form mold, which also has a strong odor.

Eighth, when the air is humid in summer, we get more smell from the smoke. Because, in such weather, our sense of smell actively smells more intense.

How to Get Rid of Fireplace Smell?

You can easily get rid of this bad smell of a fireplace on a rainy day if you want. Just a few very simple tips you need to follow.

1. Seal the Damper

First and foremost, make sure that the damper has a hard seal, and that the seal is properly mounted on top with a chain for opening and closing. It is often seen that homeowners pay less attention to this issue. Fireplace dampers are kindly attached, not well sealed, so you get the smell. You need to make sure that the damper in the fireplace is tightly closed to stop the airflow, where the air makes the smell.

2. Clean the Chimney

When we talk about the smell of the fireplace, we first suggest cleaning the chimney. Because the chimney is dirty, you will get a smell, there will be a downdraft. Chimneys should be cleaned regularly to remove raw leaves and creosote. This can protect your home from smoke as well as bad odors.

An unpleasant odor can be emitted when an animal enters your chimney. Because once the animals enter the chimney, they cannot come back. However, birds and snakes can come out. The smell of dead animals trapped in the chimney is very dangerous when the airflow of the chimney comes down during the rain.

3. Keep the Fireplace Door Closed

A glass door can help prevent odors from coming into your home. Downdrafts are more common to adjust the air pressure during rains. If your fireplace door closes at this time, it will prevent drafts from entering your home and prevent the smell of smoke.

In the summer or rainy season, when you want to close your fireplace for a long time, you should use stronger, glass doors.

4. Use a Waterproof Chimney

Molds caused by water damage and moisture can get a sweet smell. But this sweet smell will make your home and health extremely bitter. So make sure you are using a waterproof chimney.

5. Use Chimney Chase Cover

If something enters your chimney in the rain or humid weather, it doesn’t go out if it smells bad. Since you can’t go out, you can get it at home.

You should use a chimney cap and chimney chase cover to prevent leaves, animals, and bugs from entering your chimney. Mesh netting chimneys work well to keep birds, snakes, and other animals away from your chimney.

6. Exhaust Fan

You can place a box fan or window fan in the fireplace placement room. If there is a system to send air out of the house, the smell will be removed. Better to put another fan in a window opposite the house, it will draw fresh air into the room and speed up the smoke-smell removal process.

7. Use Vinegar or Baking Soda

Place vinegar or baking soda around the fireplace area to help absorb odors. Sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet and upholstered furniture as well. Use a cloth dipped in vinegar around the house to neutralize the odor after most of the odor has spread in the house. Keep in mind that the cloth should be damp to avoid splashing vinegar around the house, but not wet.

8. Remove the Ash and Burned Wood

Remove any remnants of firewood, ash, burnt wood, and creosote inside the fireplace. Do not use any green or unseasoned wood at this time.

If the ashes look very messy, sprinkle the bases of moist coffee on them first. These will help absorb odors. Then mix water with vinegar and wipe the glass doors of the fireplace inside and out. This process also works to eliminate the smell of the fireplace.

FAQs

Why does the fireplace smell become more noticeable during humid weather?

The fireplace smell becomes more noticeable during humid weather because the moisture in the air interacts with creosote deposits in the chimney. This interaction releases a smoky or musty scent, which can permeate the entire house.

What can I do to get rid of the creosote smell from my fireplace?

To get rid of the creosote smell from your fireplace, regular and thorough cleaning of the chimney is essential. This helps to reduce the buildup of creosote, a byproduct of wood combustion, which is responsible for the unpleasant smell. Professional chimney sweeps are often best equipped to perform this task.

Is it normal for my fireplace to smell more in the house during summer?

Yes, it’s normal for your fireplace to smell more in the house during summer. This is because the warm, humid air can intensify the smell of creosote in your chimney.

Can the smell from my fireplace be reduced during rainy weather?

Yes, the smell from your fireplace can be reduced during rainy weather by ensuring regular and thorough cleaning of your chimney to minimize creosote buildup.

Why does my fireplace smell like smoke when it rains?

Your fireplace smells like smoke when it rains because the moisture interacts with the creosote deposits in the chimney, releasing a smoky scent.

What causes the musty smell in my fireplace when it rains?

The musty smell in your fireplace, when it rains, is caused by damp creosote. The moisture from the rain interacts with the creosote, releasing a musty scent.

Does cleaning my chimney regularly help reduce the smell in my house when it rains?

Yes, cleaning your chimney regularly can help reduce the smell in your house when it rains. This is because cleaning reduces the buildup of creosote, which is responsible for the smoky or musty smell when it interacts with moisture.

Conclusion

In short, if you do not want to smell from your fireplace, you need to be careful and prepared in advance. There are some things you need to do before it rains, otherwise, you will get fireplace smells when it rains.

There is no substitute for regular fireplace chimney inspection and cleaning. Remember, installing and setting up a good chimney can give you the solution to most of the odors of the fireplace in your home. Also, with good fuel or dry wood burning, proper maintenance, and a professional fireplace inspection at least twice a year, the fireplace will protect you from smells.