ARC Chimney Guides
What Are the Signs Your Chimney Needs Cleaning?
Signs your chimney needs cleaning include a strong campfire or tar smell near the firebox, smoke backing up into the room, a black or sooty damper, oily black stains on the firebox walls, and poor draft or hard-to-start fires.
The short answer
Your chimney is telling you it needs a sweep when you notice a strong creosote odor, smoke backing up into the room, a black or sooty damper, oily black stains in the firebox, or fires that are hard to start and keep burning. Any one of these warrants a professional chimney sweep before your next fire.
Eight signs it is time to clean your chimney
- A strong campfire or tar smell near the firebox, often worse in warm, humid weather.
- Smoke backing up into the room instead of drawing up the flue.
- A black, sooty, or sticky damper that is hard to open or close.
- Oily black deposits on the firebox walls or just inside the flue — a sign of Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote.
- Poor draft — fires are slow to start, smolder, or will not stay lit.
- Falling soot or debris dropping into the firebox.
- A roaring, crackling, or rumbling sound during a fire — this can indicate a chimney fire in progress; close the damper and call a professional.
- It has simply been more than a year since your last sweep, regardless of how the fireplace looks.
What to do if you notice these signs
- Stop using the fireplace if you smell something burning unusually, hear a roaring sound, or see smoke entering the room.
- Do not try to clean a glazed flue yourself — Stage 3 creosote requires professional chemical treatment.
- Book an inspection. ARC includes a Level 2 video scan with every visit, so you can see the buildup that is causing the symptom.
Not sure how often you should be sweeping in the first place? Read how often a chimney should be cleaned.
Book a sweep
ARC Chimney Sweeps serves Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, including Atlanta, Pensacola, and New Orleans. Call (888) 998-2258 or schedule online.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a dirty chimney smell like?
- A chimney that needs cleaning often gives off a strong, oily, campfire-like or tar smell near the firebox, especially in warm or humid weather. The odor comes from accumulated creosote and is a clear signal to schedule a sweep.
- Is smoke coming into the room a sign of creosote?
- It can be. Creosote and debris narrow the flue and weaken the draft, which pushes smoke back into the room. Other causes include a closed or partial damper and animal nests, all of which a sweep and inspection will identify.
More Chimney Guides
Browse every guide in our chimney care library for answers to the most common homeowner questions.
Have a question about your own chimney?
Call us at (888) 998-2258 or use the form to schedule an inspection. CSIA-certified technicians, Level 2 video documentation, and a spot-free guarantee on every visit.