As a standard rule, the chimney must be inspected at least once a year. There are several factors which may require you to have your chimney swept. This may depend on how often you use the fireplace, and it needs to be cleaned if a considerable amount of residue or build up is detected.

And most importantly, it is safe to have your chimney inspected whenever you return from a vacation. This is because even if you don’t use it, the chances are that birds may have settled in the flue, and it needs to be removed. This is applicable to those who use gas for heating purposes.

A thick older deposit of creosote, which is produced in the burning of woods can produce a strong smell. The smell is even stronger on hot weather, especially in summer, when the humidity is high.

To get rid of the smell, a thorough sweep is required. If this does not help, try a commercial chimney deodorant. Baking soda or a kitty litter will also do the trick. The root cause of this problem is the air flowing down the chimney. It is best to have a professional solve the issue.

This is a common problem in many airtight houses. This happens in an airtight house where air enters the structure from the fireplace that’s not in use. The fireplace in use it pushes out the air.

In this case, the only possible way for the air to enter the house is through the other chimney. Providing a makeup air or installing a top mount damper usually solves the problem.