Odd odor/smell around interior chimney?

Chica

Hard to describe... I own a duplex. One chimney separate flues. Each have linings. The chimney runs up the back center of the house and I can look up my unfinished closet and actually see the bricks. Well when my heat kicks in (forced hot air, oil burner) I can smell an odd smell in the area by the unfinished closet. What might that smell be? I've lowered my temperature in the house afraid if it's carbon monoxide or something.

Help!

Bob Harper

rule out

You need to rule out carbon monoxide in the home. This is best done by someone experienced with a combustion analyzer and perform a worst case depressurization test then perform a Level II inspection of the chimney. Flue tiles can be damaged but even if perfectly intact, they have mortar joints every 2 feet. You could have something in contact with the chimney causing the odor but normally it would take a long time for a proper chimney to get that hot. Sounds like you're going to need two listed chimney liners.

Jamie Hall

CO

get the CO checked -- now. You could have a leak -- as noted, even lined chimneys can sometimes leak. Once the CO is checked (you can't smell CO, by the way), and the flues are checked, find out what is getting warm or too hot -- either you have a combustion gas leak (potentially deadly) or something is getting warm, which shouldn't happen either and is a potential fire hazard.