Why does my basement smell like smoke when I have a fire?

This is due to the “stacking effect” where rooms at ground level seek to match the outdoor air pressure. Rooms above the main level will have higher air pressure and basements will have the lowest air pressure. The smoke particles from your fireplace may not fully draft up the chimney.

Does a wood burning fireplace make your house smell like smoke?

Wood-burning fireplace chimneys smell smoky whether they’ve just been swept or not, because no matter how thoroughly the flue is swept, every trace of soot and soaked-in creosote cannot possibly be removed.

How do I get rid of fireplace smoke smell in my house?

Place a box fan or window fan in the same room as the fireplace, if possible, drawing air out of the room. Place another fan in a window on the opposite side of the house, pulling fresh air in. The fans speed up the smoke-removal process. Place bowls of vinegar or baking soda around the space to help absorb odors.

Why does my house fill with smoke when I light a fire?

The most likely reason that your house is filling with smoke when you light a fire is that the damper is closed. The damper should be fully opened when the fireplace is in use, and closed when it is not. All indoor fireplaces have a damper that must be opened before you light a fire in your fireplace.

Why does my house randomly smell like smoke?

If a house smells like cigarette smoke, but no one smokes in it, the source of the smell could be an accumulation of third-hand smoke on furniture, carpets, clothing, curtains, and walls. In some cases, it could be caused by old or damaged gas-based water heaters or furnaces.

Why can I smell smoke in my house?

The term for this type of olfactory hallucination is dysosmia. Common causes of dysosmia are head and nose injury, viral damage to the smell system after a bad cold, chronic recurrent sinus infections and allergy, and nasal polyps and tumors. The brain is usually not the source.

What does creosote smell like when burning?

Creosote is a byproduct of wood-burning fires that can build up in a chimney over time. Creosote smells like tar.

Why does my house smell smoky?

The smell or smoke coming down the chimney is a result of your house loosing too much air from the unsealed attic hatch. That air has to be replenished because your house is not going to implode, and so it is going to reenter the house whichever way it can. Look to find what ways air can be leaving your house.

What is chimney smoke?

Smoke is unburned wood particles – if you can see smoke from a chimney, you need to improve your technique. ■ If you see a lot of black smoke, it’s a sign you’re burning something toxic. ■ a light colored smoke means your fire isn’t burning efficiently and you need to adjust your air intake.

How fast does creosote build up?

It typically takes between six months and one year for cut wood to get to a low moisture content. Do not burn artificial packaged logs in your fireplace or your woodstove, since they leave a large amount of creosote deposits. Burn hot fires that have plenty of air.

What does electrical fire smell like?

An electrical fire initially has a fairly acrid smell of plastic burning. The short could be in the outlet or in the wiring inside a wall and can be hard to locate. Experts say if you smell something electrical burning you are lucky – most warning signs of electrical fires are invisible and odourless.

Why does my house smell like smoke from my fireplace?

Your house smells like smoke from fireplace? This might be because you are burning wood that isn’t fully seasoned or your damper isn’t open or is halfway jammed. Wetter wood will tend to be much smokier than drier wood. You can simply correct this issue by letting the wood cure a little more before burning it.

Why is there smoke coming out of my Chimney?

If fireplace does not get enough air, then the negative pressure will draw the smoke to the lowest level. If there is a second flue, smoke will cross draft to the second flue, such as the one for your insert, and back into the home at the lowest point.

Why does my basement smell so bad?

Look around the masonry chimney and any other thing that may be penetrating the first floor that goes up to the attic. If any of these items has a clear shot to the attic, the basement will be continually loosing air and can be giving you this smelly problem. “How can I tell if any of these items are happening in my house?”

Why does my fireplace kick back smoke when it rains?

If the fireplace seems to kick back smoke only when or after it rains or snows, you may have a water seepage issue. To avoid a wet flue, have a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) install a chimney cap ( view example on Amazon ).