Have you at least once traveled back in time when you saw your fireplace? Have you ever traveled back to a winter night of old, filled with warmth, family, and happy moments? I'm sure most of you did! For people who love winter season, a fireplace can spark a whole wave of nostalgia. Nothing is more special than gathering around the fireplace on a cold winter night with your family.
But as the saying goes, “Everything has an opposite and equal reaction,” the fireplace also has its downsides. The smoke from your fireplace can cause a bad smell in the house, which is sometimes hard to tackle.
In this blog, you’ll learn to prevent smoke and how to tackle the existing smoke smell in the house.
Why Does My Fireplace Smoke?
When the fireplace starts producing too much smoke, the first thing most people curse is the wood. But sometimes the woods are not the only culprit. Here are some common reasons why your fireplace may smoke.
Poor Ventilation
If you live in a modern home, this might be one reason why your fireplace smokes. Though old-style homes can also get lots of smoke due to tightly sealed ventilation, but it’s more common in modern houses. When you don’t have proper air flow into the room, the movement of combustion air and exhaust is disturbed, leading to more smoke in the room.
Blocked Chimney
Another reason for poor movement of combustion and exhaust air is a blocked chimney. If you’re experiencing excess smoke from your fireplace, even if the room is well-ventilated, it might be time to call a chimney sweep for professional cleaning.
Using Wet or Unseasoned Wood
This is obvious! Using wet or unseasoned wood will produce more smoke than dry wood. If the room is well-ventilated and the chimney is working at its highest efficiency, using wet or unseasoned wood is usually not a problem. But, try using well-seasoned and dry wood whenever possible. Use unseasoned wood only as a last resort.
Structural Issues
In some cases, the structure or construction of the fireplace itself might be the culprit. Short chimneys, improperly sized flues, and chimney leakage can all lead to excessive fireplace smoke in the house. Inspect and maintain your chimney every 6 months to avoid any structural issues.
Why Is There a Fireplace Smoke Odor in the House?
Smelling smoke right after you extinguish the fire is normal. But if you notice a persistent smoky smell the next morning, weeks later, or even months later, it’s time to address the problem.
Here are some common reasons why your fireplace smoke odor is still in the house.
- Lingering Smoke in the Fabrics - Smoke can cling to fabrics like curtains, bedsheets, tablecloths, sofas, and even your clothes. The smoke smell from these items can come in contact with the air and make the house smelly.
- Poor Chimney Draft - A chimney draft is a movement of combustion and exhaust air. A poor chimney draft can allow the trap's smoke to seep back into the house long after a fire dies down.
- Soot and Creosote Buildup - Soot and Creosote are byproducts of burning wood. They both accumulate in the flue liner of fireplaces and can cause smoke odors. The smell can escalate if soot and creosote come into contact with moisture.
- Leaky Chimney - A leaky chimney or damper can allow smoke and smoke odor to escape into the house.
What Health Effects Can Fireplace Smoke and Smoke Smell Have?
Fireplace smoke and smell are not harmful, but still, they can cause many respiratory and cardiovascular problems if exposure is frequent or prolonged.
Some common health effects include:
- Respiratory Problems - Smoke and smoke smells can trigger coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breathe in normal people. However, people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might experience severe exacerbations.
- Irritation and Headaches - Whether its cigarette smoke or fireplace smoke, both can cause stinging eyes and irritated throat. The presence of carbon monoxide and other toxins in wood smoke can also cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
Tips for Preventing Smoke from Your Fireplace
The first step to remove fireplace smoke and smoke smell from the house is to prevent smoke in the first place. Here are some actionable ways to minimize smoke production.
Fuel Your Fire Right
The types of wood you use play a critical role in how much your fireplace produces smoke. Freshly cut or unseasoned woods can produce lots of smoke due to moisture evaporation. Use only dry and seasoned wood.
Master the Art of Fire-Starting
The way you light the fire can also play a critical role in overall smoke production. To minimize the smoke as much as possible, try the "upside-down" method. Keep the small, dry twigs and leaves at the very bottom, followed by slightly bigger sticks, and finally bigger logs on the top. Make sure to make room between the smaller sticks and bigger logs for smooth airflow.
Keep Your Chimney Shining
Make sure to inspect and clean your chimney at least once a year. Chimneys are a smoke highway, and like any highway, they need regular maintenance. Lack of maintenance can obstruct airflow and contribute to smoke issues.
How to Remove Fireplace Smoke from the House?
Fireplace smoke can be stubborn sometimes. No matter what you do, it won’t go away. It might take hours, days, or even weeks to remove the smell completely. Here's how to chase that smoke away.
Increase Air Circulation
The first and most important step to clearing out the smoke is to keep the windows and door wide open. The more air you let inside the house, the faster the smoke will move out. You can also use ceiling fans, or portable fans to accelerate smoke removal.
Use Air Purifiers
Air purifiers not only remove the smoke but also help filter the air from other pollutants and allergens. For removing smoke, you have to opt for models that are designed to filter smoke. For example, the MSA3 air purifier is one popular smoke filters on the market. It has a multi-layer filtration system, such as pre-filter, activated carbon, and HEPA.
How to Remove Fireplace Smoke Odor From the House?
The fastest way to tackle smoke odor is to remove the smoke in the first place. The sooner you tackle the smoke, the easier it will be to eliminate the odor. Here are a few simple steps you can take to make your home odor free.
Deep Cleaning
Smoke smells can settle on various surfaces such as curtains, rugs, carpets, upholstery, cushion covers, furniture, walls and floors. First, you have to find the source of the smell and then give the area a deep clean.
Use Odor Absorber
Odor absorbers can be either natural or commercial. For natural deodorizers, you can use baking soda, white vinegar or activated charcoal. Place a bowl of baking soda or activated charcoal in the room, especially near the fireplace, or sprinkle white vinegar in the affected areas.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Air purifier is the most effective way, more effective than the natural ways mentioned above. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the activated carbon filter in the air purifier. Make sure the purifier has activated carbon filter as a primary filter. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose air purifier, go for the MSA3 air purifier. This purifier not only traps smoke and smoke odors but also smoke particles and other airborne pollutants.
Fire up Your Fireplace without Worrying about Anything
A burning fire in your fireplace will produce smoke no matter what. The question is, how you will eliminate the smoke from the house.
There are plenty of different ways by which you can remove smoke and odors from the house, but nothing works like an air purifier. The easiest way to tackle smoke and its smell is by using an air purifier.
However, it's also important to address the source of the smoke. Inspect your fireplace for any problems that might be causing excessive smoke, such as a blocked chimney or damp firewood. By tackling both the immediate issue and the long-term cause, you can ensure your home stays smoke-free and fresh.