Learned the hard way that a dirty flue doesn't always roar, sometimes it just smells like a campfire in July

Iris Stone · 2026-10-19T14:10:04.227276+00:00

Had a job in Rochester last month where the homeowner kept saying the fireplace "smelled funny" but swore there was no smoke backing up. I almost skipped the camera because the firebox looked clean from the front, but I dropped it down anyway and found about 3 inches of glazed creosote packed up near the top of the flue. That stuff doesn't always announce itself with a big puff of smoke into the room, it just sits up there baking and letting a little smell into the house when the weather turns warm. I pulled the liner and ran my rotary whip through it for close to 40 minutes before it came loose. Here's what bugs me: most folks only call when they see smoke, so a slow smell gets ignored for a season or two. If a customer tells you their place smells like a campfire in July, don't just nod and hand them a business card, get the camera in there. What's your go-to move when the signs are that quiet?

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Learned the hard way that a dirty flue doesn't always roar, sometimes it just smells like a campfire in July | Chimney Sweeps - Librear