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July 9, 2008
Need a good nose for chimneys
I posted on this before but have not been able to solve the problem. Every summer, we get a weird sooty smell in one bedroom. That bedroom has a non-working fireplace that has been capped up at the roof. The fireplace shares a chimney with two other flues, another for another nonworking fireplace (also capped at the roof) and one for the boiler flue, which was relined and is obviously not capped. Based on recommendations here, we brought out someone from A&A to smell the chimney. We thought if we uncapped it and put one of those propeller-like vent gizmos, that might make the smell go away. The A&A guy couldn't smell the smell (it was late September and thigns were cooler) and did not recommend uncapping the chimney. The boiler is not the source because we do not get the smell in winter. We only get it when the weather is quite warm, and only in this room, not in the other rooms above and below that share the chimney.
So what do we need? A second opinion from a chimney contractor? A chimney sweep? Any thoughts? Referrals? We want to get someone in here while the weather is hot and the smell is strongest to diagnose the problem.
Much thanks.
Comments
Let me venture a guess. It sounds like a downdraft that is bringing in the odors of the old unburnt stuff (pitch, resin, etc.) in your chimney into the house through some sort of leak at both ends of the chimney. That's why it is less in the winter, since the chimney is warmer than the outside air in winter (being heated by the houses on either side) and the air in the chimney is rising up, instead of falling down as in summer. I think you would need to look for the source of the leak. See if the capping has come off and redo it. Try and caulk any gaps and see if the smell disappears. There may be a small gap between bricks in the closed off FP too that is allowing the smell into the house. See if you can spot that one. And please make sure it's not the boiler. CO can kill!
Posted by: ohiise at July 9, 2008 12:04 PM
Thanks ohiise, I appreciate the comments and will give it some thought. Who do you think is the right kind of person to bring in to smell and diagnose the problem and do you have a good referral?
My (unproven) theory is a bit different. I suspect that the issue isn't a leak, it is moisture. If there were a leak in the cap, I would expect to feel a draft in that bedroom in winter coming through the hearth but I do not. I think that when the weather is cool and dry, and the adjacent flue warm from boiler exhaust, it is dry in the chimney. But somehow, warmth and humidity causes whatever soot, pitch etc. that is in there to give off it's smell. Pitch might make sense since it starts to melt a bit in heat. If it is soot, a sweep ought to do it. If it is pitch or something else, I suspect that would want to open the cap at the top and seal it up at the bottom so that the fumes are redirected outward. But I do want to get to a professional and accurate diagnosis.
Posted by: slopefarm at July 9, 2008 12:20 PM
I had a similar musty smell from a fireplace opening that led to a capped chimney. i simply stuffed some fiberglass insulation up the flew and that seemed to solve it. sometimes if i get home from a weekend away and the windows were shut and it's a particularly humid and hot day i get a whiff, but not 10% as bad as before.
Posted by: sixtysox at July 9, 2008 2:51 PM
Your guess is as good as mine. Yes, it could be liquefied whatever. But, it could still be a draft. These brownstone chimneys do not get cold in winter like detached house chimneys and so even if you had an opening in the FP, you may not feel a draft. Even in winter with the damper fully open and the fire unlit, I do not feel a downdraft in my FP, since I assume, the warm air in the flue is always rising. In summer with an airconditioned house and hot air outside, the air in the chimney is probably falling into the house bringing chimney smells with it. But, that's just a theory.
Anyways, cleaning the flue out might help and then sealing it back tight. I only have the name of the guy who did my FPs. His name is Manny LaSalle and he has done several FP installations and also cleans chimneys. 917-292-1825. He's very reliable and may be able to help you.
Posted by: ohiise at July 10, 2008 4:20 PM
Thanks again ohiise and thanks for the referral. I will call and see if he'll come out and give it a sniff. I like that he does installations and cleaning, so would have less of a vested interest in one solution over another. I also like the fiberglass quick fix above and will give that a try.
Incidentally, we are semi-attached and the chimney is on the alley side of the house, although covered by vinyl siding, so we would be more likely to feel a draft than if the chimney were surrounded by townhouse on all sides.
Posted by: slopefarm at July 10, 2008 4:55 PM
Commenting on CUSTOM METAL PRODUCTS: I know the owner of the brownstone I live in. At the time, he didn't have the money to get the work done. So we made a deal about the ironwork cause I wanted done ASAP. NO I'm not a spammer. As the old saying goes, "If you do not have nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all!" Worry about what's going on in your backyard, and stop worrying about mine!
Posted by: kanesebastian at July 21, 2008 1:51 PM
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