Dead Stinky Something Stuck In My Chimney: Updated, Something Else In There
A bird or bat or something must have gotten into my chimney and died because there is a horrific stench emanating from my fireplace and making the living room basically uninhabitable.
We have a chimney sweep service coming today that hopefully will find whatever it is and get it the hell out of there.
I had a contractor take a look at my roof about 2 weeks ago when he was here looking at my kitchen. I was worried about a small leak in my third floor attic bedroom and he found the issue and while he was up there he remarked that my chimney crown was cracked and the flue pipe was wide open to the sky with no bird guard/rain cap so I'm having him fix that but in the meantime something flew in there, UGH.
Any suggestions on neutralizing the stink after they get this out? a gallon of Fabreeze? This message has been edited. Last edited by: PASig,
June 15, 2021, 08:07 AM
Beancooker
I’m the guy who would just start a nice hot fire and burn it out. Probably not the best idea, but that’s most likely the route I would take.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
June 15, 2021, 08:11 AM
PASig
quote:
Originally posted by Beancooker: I’m the guy who would just start a nice hot fire and burn it out. Probably not the best idea, but that’s most likely the route I would take.
I'm not sure when there was a fire made in that fireplace last. Many years, it's got some soot in there but I think it's been basically decorative for years now. Original owner had the house built in 1951 and lived there until his death in 2017.
June 15, 2021, 08:12 AM
RogueJSK
quote:
Originally posted by Beancooker: I’m the guy who would just start a nice hot fire and burn it out. Probably not the best idea, but that’s most likely the route I would take.
Because the only thing better than a stinky dead body in the chimney is a hot, stinky dead body in the chimney plus a flue fire.
But I guess you technically would no longer have a stinky house if you burn the house down so... problem solved?
June 15, 2021, 08:14 AM
ZSMICHAEL
quote:
I’m the guy who would just start a nice hot fire and burn it out. Probably not the best idea, but that’s most likely the route I would take
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Hahahaahaha. Great recipe for an attic fire if there is an obstruction. Let the sweep do the job.
June 15, 2021, 08:20 AM
architect
Besides, smoked squirrel is said to be high in cholesterol.
June 15, 2021, 08:51 AM
Beancooker
I guess it’s glaringly obvious I have never had a fireplace.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
"Common sense is wisdom with its sleeves rolled up." -Kyle Farnsworth "Freedom of Speech does not guarantee freedom from consequences." -Mike Rowe "Democracies aren't overthrown, they're given away." -George Lucas
June 15, 2021, 09:27 AM
1s1k
Are you sure the contractor from two weeks ago made it down.
June 15, 2021, 09:42 AM
P220 Smudge
Call a chimney sweep and let him deal with it. As others said, you don’t want a chimney fire, or at the very least, a smoked up house because the chimney won’t draw smoke.
______________________________________________ Endeavoring to master the subtle art of the grapefruit spoon.
June 15, 2021, 09:44 AM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by 1s1k:
Are you sure the contractor from two weeks ago made it down.
"Original owner . . . lived there until his death in 2017."
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
June 15, 2021, 09:52 AM
M4Super90
quote:
Originally posted by architect: Besides, smoked squirrel is said to be high in cholesterol.
Where's Eddie? Doesn't he normally eat these things? Clark, he stopped when he found out they are high in cholesterol...
115 + 115 = 230
June 15, 2021, 10:32 AM
lyman
quote:
Originally posted by P220 Smudge: Call a chimney sweep and let him deal with it. As others said, you don’t want a chimney fire, or at the very least, a smoked up house because the chimney won’t draw smoke.
I would worry about the smoked up house vs a fire,
call a sweep , or do it yourself to be safe and less smokey,
"If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24
June 15, 2021, 01:24 PM
PASig
Well I'll be dammed, that's exactly what it was. Chimney guy fished out a good sized and very ripe dead squirrel from above the damper. Said he probably got in and fell down and wasn't able to get back out. We do have a large squirrel population around here, I hate those furry bastards with a passion.
quote:
Originally posted by erj_pilot:
June 15, 2021, 01:28 PM
Mustang-PaPa
Take a fan and force air up the chimney until you can deal with cleaning the dead out.
Forcing air up should take the dead smell with it and also suck the bad air from the room.
June 15, 2021, 03:00 PM
erj_pilot
quote:
Originally posted by PASig: Well I'll be dammed, that's exactly what it was.
You're welcome...
"If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24
June 15, 2021, 06:37 PM
patw
Years ago my wife and I rented a small apt. and heard some scurrying in the fireplace. At first I thought it was a rat or squirrel. I suited up-leather jacket,motor cycle helmet and gloves- opened the flue and saw two large eyes looking back at me. It was a large Barn Owl. We called the city's animal rescue/removal service and they were able to get it out. It turns out, it's mate died inside the chimney and it stayed with it. It was quite sad as it was a beautiful creature and my wife and I were amazed at how large the wing span was.
June 15, 2021, 07:24 PM
ffemt44
Although I no longer do chimney work I still am a chimney safety institute certified sweep. Let the sweep you’ve hired remove the animal not a big deal we deal with them regularly. You may need to bleach spray the area above your firebox for a few days to remove any residual bacteria and possibly maggots depending how long the dead creature has been there. As far as having a cap installed Do Not and I repeat do not have a cheap galvanized Home Depot cap installed on your flue. The bolts used to secure the cap tend to start a water trail down your flue and can cause premature flue damage. Insist your contractor install a cap that secures to the crown of the chimney with both adhesive and silicone driven tapcon screws.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: PASig, 
