The word “chimney” comes from the French word “cheminée”, which means fireplace or hearth.

Chimneys have been around for thousands of years. The ancient Romans were among the first to use chimneys in their homes.

The first chimney sweep guild was established in England in the 1300s. Chimney sweeps were known for their distinctive black clothing, which was the result of the soot and ash they encountered while cleaning chimneys.

In the Middle Ages, chimneys were a status symbol. Only the wealthy could afford to have them in their homes.

Chimneys have played a role in many classic stories and traditions, including Santa Claus coming down the chimney to deliver presents on Christmas Eve.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was started by a cow kicking over a lantern in a barn. The fire spread quickly due to the windy conditions and the city’s wooden structures, including the many chimneys.

Chimneys have been used for more than just heating and cooking. In the past, they were also used for drying clothes, smoking meat, and even as a place to keep bees.

Now we know what causes the chimney smell, it is an ideal opportunity to fix the issue. It may seem as there is no hope, making the chimney smell new again isn’t excessively troublesome. A chimney inspection and sweep are two great initial steps to any small issue, as it will remove creosote and preclude other normal issues that may have caused the smell. Dried fallen leaves and decaying creature(s) are discovered and removed with a cleaning that eliminates these options as a cause of the smell. Always a smart choice to have a routine scheduled cleaning to ensure there are no dead animals left behind.

In the perfect world, the outside of the smokestack would be waterproof as it could be expected under the circumstances and not permit dampness or moistness into the fireplace shaft. Adding a chimney cap to the fireplace not just forestalls against overabundance dampness in the stack, but it gives a boundary to keep creatures and garbage from falling into the smokestack. Best to have a cap install to lower the amount of moisture trapped inside the chimney.

• Close your fireplace damper
• Get a fireplace door installed
• Get a chimney chase cover

Are you ready to prevent these smells from coming around? Look no further and give Allstar Chimney Sweeps a call to schedule a sweep and inspection today. We are here to serve you and exceed your expectations.