Chimney issues
+30
We bought this house in Feb. 2014. We have made some reno progress. However, we had our chimney swept and the gentleman told us it had caught fire at some point prior to our purchase. Now we have this STRONG odor of burnt/burning 24/7. It never goes away. I'm afraid to use it for fear of it getting worse.
As of yesterday, I realized that what I thought was just beyond dusty is actually soot in/on every single everything in this whole house. HELP, I can't take much more if this.
As of yesterday, I realized that what I thought was just beyond dusty is actually soot in/on every single everything in this whole house. HELP, I can't take much more if this.
17 answers
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Bricks pulling away from the east side fo the house
Edwin Santiago
on Nov 11, 2014
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Was the fire damage written on the disclosure statement from the previous owners? If not, you will want to reach out to your realtor and speak to her about your issues. I hope everything works out for you. This is stressful. :-)
Cornelia Schott
on Nov 12, 2014
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No Corneilia. It was not. Do we have recourse? This is just as you say, stressful.
Hope Williams
on Nov 12, 2014
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You can reach out to your insurance company and ask if there were fire damage claims on the house. Your insurance company will be able to tell you. You may want to get one more opinion on your chimney about the fire damage. I would reach out to your real estate agent.
Cornelia Schott
on Nov 12, 2014
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You do need to speak with the Realtor that showed you the house...invite them over to smell and see...they might not have been told either....Realtor have lawyers to handle cases like this because they do not want to be sued by you....also contact your lending agent....and who did the house inspection and let everyone know what has been found...I would want it in writing what the chimney sweeper has says also....your insurance should cover a professionally cleaning service that specializes in clean up and smells for smoke....so sorry you are having to go through all of this.....
Cynthia
on Nov 12, 2014
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It has been 9 mos, I think you do have some kind of disclosure clause, the former owners were dishonest in not revealing the fire, btw, did you not detect a smokey smell when you viewed the home before you purchased?
Mssmatch
on Nov 12, 2014
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Hummmmmm then maybe it is safe to use and you can hire professionals to come in and rid the house of all the smoke / soot odors then to be on the safe side I would find an honest contractor to take a look to see if it is safe to burn
Mssmatch
on Nov 12, 2014
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We used it 3 times and it just reeked after the fire was out. It is a full brick chimney. It has an insert and I have taken it out and cleaned it with ammonia like the sweep suggested. I guess I need to find someone who can scope it. My insurance agent thinks the fire may have caused a break through the mortar, like a flash/mini pop explosion type thing. So he is investigating past claims and moving forward with it.
Hope Williams
on Nov 12, 2014
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You may have to reline the chimney or put a cap on it and close the floo. The smell is most likely coming from outside moisture and drafts of air coming down the chimney. I had the same issue on an 'as is' home purchase and while my three other chimney stacks were go to go, the stack in the biggest one is cracked and giving off a 'burnt' aroma when it rains or is very windy outside. If you don't plan to use the fireplace, cap it and put some pretty candles in it. That's what I'm going to do.
Laura Romanowski
on Nov 12, 2014
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Go back to the realtor. They don't want a bad name. When we had our home inspection, we found that there had been prior termite damage. and while it had been dealt with, it wasn't on the Disclosure statement. We made them hold back 5k at closing for 6 months until we had another clear sign off from the pest control guy.
Debbie
on Nov 12, 2014
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We had a similar problem when we bought our French farmhouse. We had to have the chimney mechanically cleaned rather than just swept; the sweep used a machine which scraped all the burnt muck from the inside of the chimney, taking it back to clean brick. It was a costly process [approx.1700 US dollars according to the online euro to dollar converter!] but worth it for the peace of mind. Then we had a new flue-liner inserted for use with a wood-burner - and I would heartily recommend a wood-burner rather than an open fire for keeping your furniture free of soot.
Madame G.
on Nov 13, 2014
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My brother purchased a home that the previous owner knew was damaged (cost to repair over fifty thousand-insurance did not cover).He had proof and he hired a lawyer. Turns out that the laws are almost worthless. Buyer beware along the Texas Gulf Coast. When I purchased my home I hired an inspector for everything. Best money spent? A company that repairs cracked/damaged foundations. Also look at your homes elevation and knock on the neighbors doors along the street. They can provide a lot of good information.
Ann
on Nov 13, 2014
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Check other (hopeful) ideas first. If the chimney is to short it can produce a downdraft that causes smell all the time. Mine is that way. I deal with it by keeping a durable plastic secured across the front. If I see a tiny wiggle I know it's a downdraft day. You can also put a plastic cover over the top of the chimney. I'm to old to get up there anymore, but it does work.
Myrna Engle
on Nov 13, 2014
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UPDATE: As of noon today we have a diagnosis. First, the fire did not cause any damage. 2. Just as Myrna just stated, our chimney is short by 4 1/2 feet. I personally find this odd! 3. Our fireplace is a standard open, solid brick fireplace. The previous owners put an insert in. The insert is WAY to small for the opening AND it is not sealed in any way. 4. We are the 3rd owners of this house, did no one else notice this disgusting smell and soot on everything? Seriously! End result, it is going to cost around $12,000 to fix it properly. (New insert, more chimney.). We have no choice but to brick it up completely. Thank you to everyone for all the great advice and helping. Being a novice fireplace person, I truly had no clue where to start. Now, I know more than I ever wanted to know about suction, downdraft, draw, backflow, ash, kreosote, moisture, inserts, no inserts, ..... Yep, brick it up it will be!
Hope Williams
on Nov 13, 2014
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Close your flue
Bellazaar Bellazaar
on Nov 14, 2014
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Having a chimney cleaned/swept is not the same as having it inspected by a certified technician. An inspection will determine if the fireplace is safe to use, meets current code. I too had a similar problem, our's is unsafe, and does not meet code. We caped it off, and then bad odors started. Because of years of neglect tar and creosote have build up along the chimney walls, ash and creosote have fallen below the firebox. Heat and moisture make the odor worst. That maybe similar to your problem. We are having the masonry repaired, firebox removed (there is some rust) cleaned the cavity and chimney, put in new firebox, and chimney liner, new cap,etc. Been assured this will get rid of the odors. Look at the Chimney Safety Institute of America [CSIA] website, for a technician that is certified, or similar agency .
Carmen
on Nov 15, 2014
- See 1 previous
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RESOLVED.
Hope Williams
on Nov 21, 2014
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