Not all smells are signs of major problems, the aesthetic of your wood burner is the cozy fireplace smell – this familiar smell is not something to worry about.
Your stove will, however, require investigation if it has started producing smells that are new, stronger than usual, and or out of place. Weather, environment and the age of your stove all affect the smell produced when burning.
Rotten smells, chemical or sooty can be a sign of issues in your chimney, if your wood burner is emitting concerning odors, please contact the supplier/installer of your fireplace and ask for advice going forward with using your stove.
Types of smells and their causes:
Strong smoke smell
There are multiple reasons why your wood burning stove could be emitting an excessively strong smoke smell:
– You are burning wet wood: burning wood with a high moisture content causes the excess moisture to burn and produce large amounts of smoke. When burning “ready to burn” wood, there will be less smoke produced and vast reduction in the smoke smell on your property.
– Your fire is getting insufficient airflow: burning with insufficient airflow starves your fire of oxygen, leading to slow burning. Slow burning causes more smoke to be emitted through a less clean and less efficient burn.
– Your fire is not burning at a high enough temperature: the best temperature for your fire varies depending on your appliance. Do check the manufacturer’s guidance to find what temperature is ideal for your appliance and aim to burn at this temperature. Burning at a too low temperature can lead to incomplete combustion, producing excessive smoke and other hazards.
Soot Smell
When you get a strong smell of soot, this is a sign that your chimney requires sweeping. Soot is a by-product of burning wood. Burn “ready to burn” logs with a moisture content of 20% or less reduces the production of soot, but over extended periods soot can still build-up in your chimney.
Paint Smell
If you can smell a paint scent coming from your fireplace when in use, this is likely due to the paint on your wood burner still needing to cure. Paint curing is the process in which paint becomes fully hardened, following drying.
Paint smells often occur on new fire stoves, where the fresh coat of paint is still curing. If you notice this smell, follow these steps to help eliminate it:
1. Start a small fire, slowly burning it and increasing the heat over a 4–6-hour period. Keep the room well ventilated.
2. Repeat this step with larger, hotter fires until the paint smell has dissipated. The paint smell should take 3-4 burns to eliminate, with the smell reducing with each burn.
If the smell persists after following these steps, it is possible that some paint is burning further up in your flue system. It is a good idea to schedule a chimney inspection and sweep if the smell is persistently strong.
Chemical and medicinal smell
The build-up of creosote causes a pungent smell that is often described as chemical and medicinal – when burning, the smell can resemble burnt tar or asphalt. Creosote is highly a flammable substance that can build-up in your chimney, creating a major risk of a chimney fire.
If you get a strong smell of tar while having your stove in use, it is highly advisable to turn your appliance off and book a chimney sweep as soon as possible.
Rotten or foul smell
If you get a foul smell or a smell that is off, it is possible that there is a corpse of an animal trapped in your chimney. The smell will continue to get worse the more you burn so it is recommended that you book a chimney sweep to help eliminate the corpse and the smell so you can continue burning.
Ash Smell
When ash is left too long and in too large quantities in your wood burner, can emit a strong ash smell; if you smell ash when burning then it is time to clear it out. Excess ash also reduces the airflow to your stove, leading to poorer burning and increased smoke.
Stale or damp smell
A damp or stale odor smell coming from your fireplace often occurs due to a build-up of moisture in your chimney. The most common cause of moisture build-up is burning wet wood; be sure that you are burning ‘ready to burn’ logs with a moisture content of 20% or less to avoid a build-up of moisture, soot, and creosote in your chimney.
How to stop your wood burning stove from smelling
– burn ‘ready to burn’ wood – firewood with a moisture content of 20% or less burners cleaner and more efficiently.
– have your chimney swept at least twice a year – keeping your chimney clear of soot, tar and creosote deposits aids a clean and safe burn.
– ensure that your room is adequately ventilated, a healthy burn needs a healthy supply of oxygen.
– if your stove is new, use it a few times (burning hotter each time) to eliminate any paint smells
– dusting down your stove if it hasn’t been used for a prolonged period prevents the dust from burning and emitting an odor as you use your stove.
– check your stove – if your door seals or stove glass is damaged, smoke can leak into your property causing lingering odors.
Burning clean, safe and efficiently
It is best that you always burn wood with a moisture content of 20% or less. This will give you a much cleaner and more efficient burn. Burning wet wood is the most common cause of excess smoke and smells entering your room.
Your stored wood can slowly soak up fumes from other sources
If you store your wood in your garage, over a period of time it can absorb fumes and odors from your vehicle. Exhaust fumes can be absorbed, causing your logs to give off a faint smell when burned. At the same time, this isn’t a cause for concern due to the extremely low concentration of exhaust fumes present in the wood, the smell isn’t desirable.
To avoid all this, prioritize the wood at the bottom of your log store when selecting logs to burn or, if possible, store your logs in another suitable location.
If you are unsure whether your wood or your appliance is causing an unpleasant odor, burn wood that has been stored separately – this will identify whether the culprit is your wood supply or your appliance.
