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Chimney & Fireplace

Strong sweet smell coming from vent in disused chimney

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.31 PM

Hello, I live in the ground floor flat of a Victorian conversion. For 18 months I’ve been trying to find the origin of a horrible sickly sweet smell (like gone off biscuits) in the living room. Finally realised today that it’s the vent at the bottom of the blocked off chimney. It was really windy today and the smell was blowing through the flat. I rent and I can’t see the landlady wanting to help. Can I block up the vent or will that cause a disaster? It’s an outside wall and I have that very fine dusty damp around the flat, where the paint turns to powder. Thanks very much, Stella

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2 Answers

Cardiff chimney sweeps

Rating: 5 out of 5

Cardiff

Hi First of all shouldn’t block a vent up as it lets air circulate in the chimney preventing damp but only if your chimney isn’t blocked ie a bird nest , I would get it swept then put a chimney cowl on to stop birds getting in the chimney , the flue needs to be clear otherwise damp will prevail

Answered29 June 2020

Toasty Stoves

Rating: 4.9 out of 5

Bristol

In this case. I would get a vent yhat csn be closed..so if you go out open. But o ce home close. You should not have to live with strange smells or damp..which some csn be detrimental to health..so i call the council to take a look. If it gets worse..just hope the smell not a gas leak. Mark innes

Answered29 June 2020