A Burning Smell In Your House? It Might Not Be What You Think

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When your house smells like a campfire, you likely picture the worst–is your house on fire? Should you worry? Smelling burning odors in your home doesn’t automatically mean there’s a fire, although an electrical fire is possible, and you should immediately put it out if that’s the case.

But can there be smoke without a fire?

It’s possible, and you’ll need to pinpoint the source of the smell. Knowing the potential reasons for a lingering burning smell in the house is a critical step in solving the problem. The reasons your home smells like a campfire can range from minor to severe issues. Here are six reasons and their possible solutions.

Reason 1: Your Chimney And Fireplace

If you have a wood-burning fireplace in your home, this is a common source of campfire smells–but not while a fire is burning. After the fire goes out, you’ll likely notice some smoky remnants. This is thanks to odorous air reversing in the flue and coming back down into the house.

This backdraft occurs thanks to a whole series of places throughout your home where air can escape. As the air leaves your house, air also needs to come in, and your chimney offers the largest area for that to occur.

The Fix – Fireplace Screen

To reduce the campfire smell in this situation, close the damper when you’re not using your fireplace. You can also employ the use of a fire screen or glass in front of the fireplace when there’s no fire blazing.

Additionally, soot and creosote build-up can add an unwanted campfire scent to your home. If creosote continues to accumulate, it can lead to hazardous consequences, like health issues and fires. Therefore, check your chimney often and get it professionally cleaned at least once a year.

Reason 2: Third-Hand Smoke

You’ve heard of secondhand smoke, which occurs when you breathe in or are exposed to smoke from another source. For example, you don’t smoke, but perhaps your partner does, so you still get some of the effects of the smoke.

Objects and fabrics, like bedsheets and curtains, can also soak in smoke and hold onto it, releasing a scent into the air. When you smell this smoky odor, you’re smelling third-hand smoke.

The Fix – No Smoking At Home

The obvious way to avoid this is not to allow any smoking in your home. However, sometimes, the smell makes its way into these items from other sources or past owners of the home.

The Fix – Odor Neutralizers

If the smell is already there embedded in your home, you’ll need to try and eliminate it with various techniques. You can start simply with odor-neutralizers like vinegar and baking soda. Place some bowls of vinegar around your house or sprinkle baking soda to soak up the smell and get rid of it.

The Fix – Remove And Clean

If the campfire smell is deeply embedded in your fabric curtains or cushions, reupholstering, professional cleaning, or purchasing new ones might be necessary.

The Fix – Remove And Repaint

If the campfire odor is trapped and embedded in your furniture, walls, and floors, you might need to consider some remodeling. You can reupholster furniture, paint walls, and change out floors. If the odor is very intense, you may need to consider repainting using odor and stain-blocking primer and paint specifically designed for this purpose, like KILZ Restoration primer.

Reason 3: Neighborhood Burn Piles

Do you have neighbors who tend to burn their piles of leaves or trash? Open burning like this is rarely legal in most places; not only does it pose a significant fire risk, but it also causes a big stink.

The Fix – Clear The Air

Since the smell isn’t coming directly from your home, you could use air purifiers to lessen the odor and plug in air fresheners and sprays to mask the scent. You could also burn scented candles, bake cookies, or do anything else that will help fill your home with a pleasant aroma.

The Fix – Have A Chat

Chat about your concerns if you’re on good terms with the neighbor doing the burning. If your neighbor doesn’t budge, you might need to report them to local code enforcement.

Reason 4: Excess Moisture

If you have excess humidity or moisture in your home, it can make smells more intense. If additional moisture is making its way into your chimney, this can especially intensify a campfire smell.

The Fix – Dehumidifiers

Excess moisture can worsen a smell and lead to hazards like mold. Using dehumidifiers can help tackle extra humidity in the air.

Reason 5: Electrical Fires

An electrical fire is one of the most dangerous causes of a campfire smell in the house. If something happens with the wiring and sparks near wooden materials in your home, it can smoke, alerting you to the possibility of a fire.

The Fix – Put Out Fire

In some cases, you might notice the source, perhaps an outdated or faulty outlet or a failing appliance. Kill the power at the main breaker and smother the fire with baking soda.

You can also use a fire blanket or extinguisher. Then, call an electrician to repair the faulty wiring so it doesn’t happen again.

You absolutely never put water on an electrical fire, even if the power is off. However, if the fire is more extensive, or you’re unsure what to do, exit your home and call the fire department.

Reason 6: Phantom Smells

Although rare, there’s a chance that the campfire smell you’re sniffing isn’t really there. Phantosmia is a condition where people smell odors that don’t exist, and burning smells are the most common.

The Fix – Check With Your Doctor

If you can’t find the source of the campfire smell, and others in your home don’t smell it, this could be a possibility. Check with your doctor to investigate further.

More Ways To Keep Your House Smelling Fresh

Open the windows and doors to air out your home. Cross-ventilation can help remove old air and bring fresh air in.

Get An Ozone Machine

If the odor insists on lingering, you might consider buying an ozone machine. It releases ozone particles that work to purify your home’s air. Mini-ozone generators can cost about $30 to $75, but they’re only suitable for tiny spaces, like a small bathroom. You’ll spend more than $500 to $1,000 to work with larger rooms or your whole house.

Use Odor Eliminators In Your Home

While many products can mask unpleasant odors, the best approach is to eliminate them at the source. Odor eliminators don’t just hide the smell; they get rid of it.

You can use household products like baking soda or vinegar, but there are also some great products. For example, the Hamilton Beach TrueAir Room Odor Eliminator claims to banish odors from an average-sized room. You simply replace the filters every three months to keep your air smelling fresh.

There are also products specifically targeted to the odor you’re dealing with, say pet odor. For example, if pet urine is your big offender, find an enzymatic cleaner that targets this particular scent. If the smell’s coming from your carpet, try a carpet odor eliminator, like Arm&Hammer Extra Strength with OxyClean.

Use A Professional Smoke-smell Removal Service

Smoke smell remediation companies come in after events like house fires to help banish the smoke smell from your home. They take care of everything from the floors to the walls to individual items. Plus, they also address the ventilation system so lingering smoke smells don’t return.

Depending on the extent of the odor, you could pay anywhere from $3,000 to over $10,000. Of course, the larger your home and the more spread out the smoke smell, the more it will cost.

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If mysterious odors plague your home or workspace, the secret lies in cleaning your air ducts frequently and thoroughly. To remove odor from air ducts, you need to find the source of the odor, clean the different air conditioning components, and follow through with any necessary repairs. Read more to find out how to get rid of odors in air ducts.

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