Camden County, New Jersey
Fireplace Odors Explained in Haddon Township, NJ
Haddon Township has a large share of mid-century and older homes. A fireplace smell has several possible causes, and the right fix depends on which.
Emergency first. Act on these before anything else on this page.
- Fire, flames, or a room filling with smoke: get everyone out of the home and call 911 or the fire department. If someone or a pet cannot get out, tell the operator or firefighters right away. Ready.gov: home fires.
- A carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning: get outside to fresh air immediately, then call 911. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so you cannot smell it. CPSC: carbon monoxide.
- You smell gas: leave the building immediately. Do not try to find the source, and do not use light switches, phones, matches, appliances or a car near the building. Once you are at a safe distance, call your gas utility or 911. PSE&G tells customers to move at least 350 feet away and call 1-800-880-PSEG (7734) or 911. PSE&G: if you smell gas. Other utilities publish their own numbers.
The sections below are about routine chimney questions. Booking a visit is for after any emergency is handled.
Haddon Township, in Camden County, is about 63% detached houses and 66% owner-occupied. The median build year is 1955, about 39% of homes predate 1950, and the ACS median home value is about $407,000.
This page is about the smell some fireplaces give off, and also about what to expect when selling a house that has one.
Odors are among the more common reasons for a call. They are also often easier to fix than they seem.
Learn
What the smell tells you
| The smell | More likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Strong, tarry, worse in summer | Creosote deposits | Sweep |
| Damp, musty | Water in flue or firebox | Check cap and crown |
| Rotten or animal | Nest or dead animal | Call before lighting |
| Smoke when no fire | Draft reversal | Inspect, damper, cap |
Smells that grow worse in humid weather usually mean deposits. A cap that keeps rain out, a closed damper and a clean flue help most. See why your fireplace smells and what creosote is.
Sellers
Selling a house with a fireplace
Buyers' inspectors may flag a chimney even when nothing is wrong, and an inspection beforehand removes surprises. A seller can have the chimney inspected and swept, and keep the paperwork. See chimney inspection when buying or selling.
Housing profile
What the housing mix means in Haddon Township
Older houses sit beside later ones here, so two neighbors can need very different things. The Census cannot tell us which chimneys are masonry or how any of them has aged, so the likely cause of an odor is worked out house by house. The smell questions on this page apply to older and newer homes alike.
Checklist
If there is a smell
- Does it come with rain or humidity?
- Is it stronger in summer?
- Does it smell like animals?
- Does it happen with the fireplace unused?
- When was the flue last swept?
Symptoms
| Symptom | Possible cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Tarry odor | Deposits | Sweep |
| Musty odor after rain | Water entry | Cap and crown |
| Odor with no fire | Draft | Inspect |
| Smell of animal | Nest | Inspect before use |
What we look at
Where smells come from
Deposits
Old creosote and soot smell stronger in humid weather.
Moisture
Water in the flue or firebox produces a damp, sooty smell.
Animals
Nests and droppings, or a dead animal.
Draft reversal
Air coming down the chimney carries odor with it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Will a sweep remove the smell?
If deposits are the cause, it usually helps a great deal.
Can a smell be a safety problem?
Sometimes. A gas smell, visible smoke or a sounding alarm is an emergency: follow the steps above and do not wait for a visit.
Should sellers get an inspection?
It can help.
Service areas
Other areas we serve
Chimney Academy
Guides that go with this page
Questions about your chimney in Haddon Township?
Call us, or send a scheduling request. We will contact you to confirm. Your appointment is not confirmed until we do.