Why does my wood burner smell?

Strong smoke smell

There are a number of reasons that your wood burner could be emitting an excessively strong smoke smell:

You are burning wet wood – burning wood with a high moisture content causes the excess moisture to burn and produce large amounts of smoke. By burning Ready to Burn wood, there will be much less smoke produced and a vast reduction in the smoke smell in your property.
Your fire is getting insufficient airflow – burning with insufficient airflow starves your fire of oxygen, leading to slow-burning. Slow-burning causes more smoke to be emitted through a less clean and less efficient burn.
Your fire is not burning at a high enough temperature – the optimum temperature for your fire varies depending on your appliance. Check the manufacturer’s guidance to find what temperature is ideal for your appliance and aim to burn at this temperature. Burning at too low a temperature can lead to incomplete combustion, producing excessive smoke and other hazards.
Your chimney or flue is blocked – if you can smell soot or creosote in addition to smoke, it is likely that there is a blockage in your chimney or flue. Book a chimney sweep with your local HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep as soon as possible to avoid the potential of a chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Inadequate chimney size – if your chimney is not suitable for your appliance (for example, it is too short or not wide enough) it could be providing insufficient draw to fully remove smoke from your property. This smoke would then re-enter, causing a lingering smoke smell. If you believe your chimney is not suitable for your appliance, contact a HETAS Approved Servicing Technician to investigate and provide trusted advice.
Insufficient ventilation – negative air pressure due to insufficient ventilation can lead to difficulties starting a fire or smoke re-entering the room. Providing ample ventilation through open doors, windows left ajar, and opening any vents in your property helps prevent negative air pressure.
Closed damper – accidentally leaving your stove damper closed whilst your stove is in use causes your fire to get insufficient airflow. Keeping your damper open to promote oxygen flow to your stove helps keep your fire burning. Your damper should only be closed once the fire is out and your appliance has sufficiently cooled down – this will prevent strong smoke smells in your home.
Damaged appliance – if your appliance is damaged, it could be leaking smoke as you burn. Check your door seals and your stove glass for issues to ensure that your appliance is not leaking smoke.

Soot smell

A strong smell of soot when your wood burner is in use is a telltale sign that your chimney requires sweeping. Soot is a by-product of burning wood – burning Ready to Burn logs with a moisture content of 20% or less reduces the production of soot, but over extended periods soot can still build up in your chimney. If you smell a strong soot smell when burning, book a HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep to investigate and eliminate any soot deposits.

Paint smell

If you notice a paint smell when using your stove, this is likely due to the paint on your wood burner still needing to cure. Paint curing is the process in which paint becomes fully hardened, following drying.

A paint smell occurs most often on new stoves where the fresh coat of paint is still curing. If you notice this smell, follow these steps to eliminate it:

Start a small fire, slowly building it and increasing the heat over a 4-6 hour period. Keep the room well ventilated.
Repeat this process with larger, hotter fires until the paint smell has dissipated. The paint smell should take 3-4 burns to eliminate, with the smell reducing with each burn.

If the smell persists after following these steps, it is possible that some paint is burning further up in your flue system. It is a good idea to schedule a chimney inspection and sweep if the smell is persistently strong.

Chemical and medicinal smell

Creosote build-up causes a pungent smell that is often described as chemical and medicinal – when burning, the smell resembles burnt tar or asphalt. Creosote is a highly flammable substance that can build-up in your chimney, creating a major risk of a chimney fire. If you smell a strong tar smell when using your log burner, it is highly advisable to turn your appliance off and book a chimney sweep as soon as possible.

Rotten or foul smell

If you smell a putrid odour when using your wood burner, it is possible that there is the corpse of an animal trapped in your chimney. This smell will continue to get worse the more you burn so it is recommended that you book a chimney sweep to eliminate the corpse and the smell so you can continue burning.

Ash smell

Ash left too long and in too large quantities in your wood burner can emit a strong ash smell; if you smell ash when burning then it is time to clear it out. Excess ash also reduces the airflow to your stove, leading to poorer burning and increased smoke.

Stale or damp smell

A stale or damp odour from your stove often occurs due to a build-up of moisture in your chimney. The most common cause of moisture build-up is burning wet wood; ensure you are burning Ready to Burn wood with a moisture content of 20% or less to avoid a build-up of moisture, soot, and creosote in your chimney.