Fireplace Mishap

[Mycon]

So last night my housemates decided to test out the downstairs fireplace, and promptly filled the entire house with smoke. They got it cleared out, but now the whole place reeks like a campfire. That room is also right next to the primary furnace intake, so every time the heat comes on I get a fresh blast of it. It's too cold outside to leave the windows open, and they have pets and are worried about using chemical sprays.

Do any of you gents have a good way of getting rid of this sort of smell? I have a VERY keen nose, so this is almost unbearable.

 

[Isaac]

Ive been pretty happy with the spray What Odor. Its nontoxic, biodegradable. Safe for humans and pets, and it really does zap the odors away.

RIP Billy Mays!!

 

[Mycon]

Hmmm that sounds like a good shot. Can you get it from any stores or do you have to order it online?

 

[AACJ]

I would think you would have to turn the furnace on, open a window or all of them and air the house out. Go to the store for a while so you don't smell it, then button the house up when you get back.

 

[Miles]

+1 on the big air out. A spray is really just going to blanket the existing odors, and if you have a sensitive nose then you could be doubly unhappy.
Get bundled up and go BBQ some turkey outside or something while the place airs out. I'd even use window fans and other stuff to blast out the smokiness. It's entirely possible that you'll just have to get used to it, as smoke smells tend to linger.

Good luck!

 

[Tolduonce]

You can shell out the bucks for an ionizing air cleaner. They are a bit pricey and there is controversy about them being harmful to your health. The upside is that you can probably rent one for a week or so and run it when no one is home.

 

[Mycon]

Thank you for the replies gents!
It seems to have died down a bit while we were at my Mom's place for dinner. It now smells more like we've being cooking BBQ all day rather than burning a campfire in the living room. I think tomorrow I will open all of the windows while I am outside putting up the Christmas lights and drop it further.

Since my sinuses were killing me, I planned today's shave accordingly. I took a very hot bath, and lathered up with Mama Bear's Awakenings. That Tea Tree, Peppermint, and Menthol really did the trick.

 

[SRock]

I would think you would have to turn the furnace on, open a window or all of them and air the house out. Go to the store for a while so you don't smell it, then button the house up when you get back.

+1 This would be my first move as well.

 

[tpoof]

get a small pail and put some charcoal briquets in it and place it in a inconspicuous place in the room... change every day or two it is supposed to remove the residual odours..
This works quite well I am told, although have had no need to try it out.
also, it is good when lighting that fireplace to open the dampers on the fireplace and just crack the outside door open a touch till the heat of the flame draws the smoke up the chimney, then you can shut the door and damper down the fireplace.. works for me
otherwise the fire will starve for oxygen and will back up into the house..

 

[Prince]

get a small pail and put some charcoal briquets in it and place it in a inconspicuous place in the room... change every day or two it is supposed to remove the residual odours..
This works quite well I am told, although have had no need to try it out.
also, it is good when lighting that fireplace to open the dampers on the fireplace and just crack the outside door open a touch till the heat of the flame draws the smoke up the chimney, then you can shut the door and damper down the fireplace.. works for me
otherwise the fire will starve for oxygen and will back up into the house..

never knew that about charcoal. I would make sure you didn't use the matchlight charcoal since they usually have their own fumes.

 

[tpoof]

never knew that about charcoal. I would make sure you didn't use the matchlight charcoal since they usually have their own fumes.

I have a story somewhat related..
I was in hospital the other year and in the room across the hall a lady was sick and vomited all over the place.. the smell was almost unbearable
after the staff sprayed and cleaned and washed the room, the smell lingered on, the whole back end of the hallway began to take on the odour..
till someone brought the charcoal briquettes in and before long the scent was gone.
leaving no after odour..
and yes I would think it would have to be the plain non matchlight brand.

 

[Mycon]

I read about the charcoal when I Googled the issue. I'll have to give that a try. The non-Matchlight briquettes are probably cheaper too.
I was a little leery of it because I tried the bowl of white vinegar trick, and all it did was make my bedroom smell like Mesquite BBQ sauce

 

[luvmysuper]

Just frame and hang this painting on your wall and tell visitors that it was painted in "smell-o-rama"

 

[_JP_]

There is a deodorizing spray from Home Depot that we use to get rid of smoke odors in apartments. It's quite effective. You can also try Febreeze which I also find effective. Oh, and change your furnace filter.

 

[_JP_]

Step one to building a fire in the fireplace: Make sure the flue is open!

There is a deodorizing spray from Home Depot that we use to get rid of smoke odors in apartments. It's quite effective. You can also try Febreeze which I also find effective. Oh, and change your furnace filter.

 

[professorchaos]

Step one to building a fire in the fireplace: Make sure the flue is open!

My thoughts precisely.

 

[Mycon]

Apparently the flue WAS open. This fireplace just hasn't been used in some 30 years or so. I also noticed that there is now a fine film of gray dust all over the walls (dark wood paneling) which is likely contributing to the smell.
I was going to do the air-out today, but one of them got hostile with me about it because she was cold (it's my little sister and her fiance down there.) I waited until they had left for the night and did it anyway
It's a lot more tolerable upstairs now, but I think it still needs some sort of deodorizing. And I needed a new furnace filter anyway so I plan to get one tomorrow if it's not snowing too bad.

 

[_JP_]

Check the chimney for obstruction. It is possible for debris to build up by falling down the chimney and collecting above the flue. There's often a kind os shelf there.

Dad's wood stove requires that the outside door be cracked open in order to properly start the draft up the stove pipe when lighting it. (That prevents a down draft) Once the flue warms up that door gets closed.

 

[johnniegold]

After setting up the logs in the fireplace, I take a rollled up piece of newspaper and light it and hold it up inside of the flue to get the draft started up the chimney.

Also, at my house, no fires in the fireplace if it is exceptionally windy outside. If I do, the inside of the house will look like a Cheech & Chong movie.

 

[Dennis]

If your fireplace hasn't been used in 30 years, call a chimney sweeper out for a clean out and inspection.