Reasons For Bad Fireplace Smells, Smoky Odors, And Smelly Chimneys

Why does your fireplace smell—or worse, fill the room with smoke?

In our home, I know it’s time to sweep the chimney when smoke starts coming into the room instead of up the flue. That’s often the #1 culprit—but it’s not the only one.

From creosote buildup and poor-quality wood to moisture, dirty bricks, or even changes in the weather, there are several reasons your fireplace might be causing odors or smoke issues. Let’s break them down.

Reasons for a smelly fireplace

These are the most common reasons a fireplace smells smoky.

1. The Chimney Needs Sweeping

If you can smell creosote, ash, or soot, it’s likely time for a chimney clean.

A proper sweep removes buildup that affects airflow and causes smoke and odor. Bonus tip: toss the ash and debris onto your garden—it’s a great source of phosphorus.

2. Discolored Brick or Tile

Fireplace bricks, tiles, or stone that haven’t been cleaned in a while can absorb odors.

If you’re seeing stains or discoloration, they might be contributing to the smell. We’ve got a full guide on how to clean fireplace brick to help with that.

3. The Weather

Wind, rain, and heat can all cause or worsen fireplace smells.

• Wind: Try closing vents or temporarily sealing the fireplace if wind is pushing air down the chimney.
• Rain: Water in the chimney = musty smells. Make sure your chimney cap is secure and watertight.
• Heat: Sunlight can heat the chimney and release built-up odors. Keeping the flue clean and vents closed can help reduce this.

4. A Closed-Up House

We often notice the smell after being away on holiday.

Our fireplace pulls air from inside the house, and in summer especially, that air can get stale—leading to stronger smells when we return.

Temporarily blocking interior vents (just don’t forget to remove them before using the fire!) and airing out the house can make a big difference.

5. A Damaged Fireplace

Cracks or damage in the fireplace can let smoke or smell escape into the room. If you suspect this is the issue, it’s best to call in a professional.

We had a major issue when the wetback on our stove burst—let’s just say, the smell wasn’t subtle.

6. Smelly Firewood

Unseasoned or damp wood creates extra smoke—and it’s smellier, too. Make sure your firewood is properly dried before burning. Also, some woods just stink.

I cut down a horse chestnut with my DEWALT battery saw, seasoned it, and gave it a go in the fire. Never again—it reeked!

Why Does My Open Fire Smell?

Open fires can smell in the summer due to a downdraft from outside into the home. This will bring the odor of creosote into your home.

Creosote is the black stuff that you come across when cleaning your chimney. I find it tends to stick around the chimney cap in particular, but it lines the entire flue or chimney of your fireplace.

The best way to stop your open fire from smelling is to apply a plywood cover inside your fireplace which will prevent any backdraft into the home. You can usually do this in such a way that it is not visible from the room (without bending over and looking up the fire).

Get rid of smokey odors

After cleaning out your fire, it’s important to give your house a good airing out.

On a fine day, open up all the doors and windows for several hours.

1. Many people use essential oils and diffusers to help remove the smell of smoke from their homes.
2. Reed diffusers are another popular way to have your home smell nice again.
3. Others use bowls of activated charcoal to help absorb smoke odors.

How Long Does Smoke Smell Last In House?

The smoke smell will eventually disappear once you start airing out your home – provided you’ve cleaned the chimney!

I’ve found it doesn’t take longer than 3 or 4 good air-outs to basically remove all the fire odors. However, it’s always going to depend on your particular situation – how much was going into the room and for how long, you know?

What Absorbs The Smell Of Smoke?

Here are some products or methods you can use to absorb the smell of smoke:

• Leave bowls of activated charcoal or fireplace ash around your home
• Purchases an ecologically friendly deodorizer
• Use an air purifier
• Wipe walls and surfaces with vinegar
• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and vacuum

But ultimately, the method of removing the smoke smell from a home that I’ve found most effective is simply airing it out.

How often to sweep a chimney

Here are 5 ways to tell if you need to sweep your chimney:

1. Smoke comes out the door, rather than going up the chimney, when lighting the fire or putting more wood on
2. It’s difficult to light the fire and keep it going
3. Your fire isn’t putting out as much heat
4. Excess soot and creosote are coming down into your fireplace
5. You see signs that birds have built a nest in your chimney

I have seen some wood fire stoves that have basically become completely blocked. These fireplaces were filling the room with smoke before their owners decided to do something about it!

How often you sweep your chimney will depend on the type of wood you are burning and how often it is lit, but at least twice a year is a good rule of thumb.

A fireplace and chimney that is drawing well will keep the smoke out of your home, which is better for your health and keeps things smelling nice!

If you are not burning seasoned wood (wood that does not have a high moisture content), you will need to clean your chimney more frequently. Also, if you have your fire going all the time, or if you keep it burning slowly all night, you may need to sweep your chimney more often.

What Happens If Chimney Not Swept?

If you don’t clean your chimney at least once or twice a year, creosote and soot will continue to build up until it does become blocked.

More seriously, you will stand a higher chance of having a chimney fire. If you burn your fire hot there will be less creosote build-up.

Many insurance companies require you to regularly sweep your chimney to remain covered for damage caused by a chimney fire and other fireplace-related house damage.

And, as we’ve already covered, if you don’t sweep your chimney, your house will begin to smell more and the inhabitants will be in a health-risk situation.

Fireplace Odors

I’ve touched on most of the reasons why fireplaces and wood stoves smell, but here is a summary.

A fire can stink out a house because:

• The chimney or flue needs swept
• The firebox needs to be cleaned
• There is a draft coming down the chimney
• Your fireplace does not shut airtight
• You are burning something you shouldn’t be (like treated wood)

It may also be because of a bad fireplace design.

When it comes to fireplace smells in your home, the answer in most cases is to have your chimney cleaned. To extend the time between cleans, burn seasoned wood, and don’t keep your fire going on low overnight.

Whether you’re burning oak firewood or birch wood, stay safe and keep warm!