Does your house smell of smoke with a log burner?

Author: Gaylord Nikolaus  |  Last update: Monday, December 8, 2025

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.

Do wood-burning fireplaces make your house smell like smoke?

Yes, it is normal for a woodstove to cause a smoky smell in the house. This can happen for several reasons, including inefficient burning, issues with the chimney or ventilation, or improper installation, maintenance, or operation of the woodstove (1).

How to get rid of smoke smell in house from wood stove?

To get rid of the smell of smoke after burning firewood, ventilate the area thoroughly, use air purifiers, and clean surfaces with vinegar or baking soda solutions. Placing bowls of activated charcoal or coffee grounds can also absorb odors. For more tips, visit my Quora Profile.

How do I make my house smell good with a wood stove?

Seasonal Scents for Your Wood Burning Stove or Open Fire
  1. PINECONES. Pinecones can be found in abundance at this time of year. ...
  2. CITRUS – ORANGE AND LEMON SLICES. ...
  3. CINNAMON STICKS. ...
  4. HERBS FROM THE GARDEN. ...
  5. FRAGRANT AND ESSENTIAL OILS. ...
  6. WHICH LOGS?

How do I keep my house from smelling like smoke from the fireplace?

Smoke Smell In House When Fireplace Not Burning
  • 1) Close the fireplace damper when not in use.
  • 2) Add a good, tight-fitting glass firescreen.
  • 3) Consider a top-sealing damper.
  • 4) Provide a source of outside combustion air to your other combustion appliances.

Why Is My Stove Spilling Smoke And What Should I Do About It!

Should you smell smoke from a wood burner?

Residual exhaust fumes can be absorbed, causing your logs to give off a faint smell when burned. Whilst this isn't a cause for concern due to the extremely low concentration of exhaust fumes present in the wood, the smell isn't desirable.

How do you permanently remove smoke smell from a house?

To completely get rid of the odour you need to remove any sources of the smell.
  1. Empty all ashtrays. If you smoke, or live with a smoker, a common source of the odour is the ashtray. ...
  2. Stop smoking in the house. ...
  3. Baking soda. ...
  4. Use vinegar. ...
  5. Use ammonia. ...
  6. Use alcohol. ...
  7. Use an air purifier.

How do I keep my house clean with a wood stove?

Tips for reducing dust in the home:
  1. Use dry and well stored firewood. Damp or poorly stored firewood can produce more smoke and particles, which increases the amount of dust in the house.
  2. Clean the stove regularly. ...
  3. Install a high-efficiency air filter. ...
  4. Clean surfaces regularly. ...
  5. Use a hoover with a HEPA filter.

Can I boil ground cinnamon to make my house smell good?

Better than any spray, oil, or candle I have ever bought. The simplest method, and my go-to, is to grab a small saucepan, fill it with water, and toss in a few cinnamon sticks (or a few vigorous shakes of ground cinnamon). Turn the burner on low and let it hang for a bit. To make sure I don't burn the apartment down.

How to get smoke from a fireplace out of a house?

To fix this problem, you can open up the air vents and windows in the same room as the fireplace. It might seem counterintuitive to crack the windows open while you're heating up your home, but it will help fix your smoke problem.

Should I open a window when using a fireplace?

Use a fireplace for a short-duration fire — no longer than five hours. Keep the glass open to allow air to be drawn up to cool the chimney, but keep the screen closed to prevent sparks from jumping onto the carpeting.

Why does my house smell like cigarettes but no one smokes?

If you have ruled out thirdhand smoke as the culprit, electrical faults may be the cause. When insulation on wiring gets too hot, it can emit an acrid smell that some people mistake for cigarette odour.

Why does my wood stove smoke up the house?

When a wood-burning stove or insert is not operating correctly, it can push smoke into the home instead of venting safely outside. Several reasons include wood moisture, improper combustion, negative pressure, and kindling/wood placement during startup that can lead to smoke entering the home.

How to get smoke smell out of house from wood stove?

White Vinegar

Another way you can utilize vinegar's natural odor-absorbing properties is by leaving a bowl of vinegar in any room that smells of smoke.

Is it okay to leave the flue open overnight?

If you're leaving the home or retiring for the evening, always close the glass doors but leave the flue open.

How often should you clean your chimney?

The NFPA recommends that all chimneys be cleaned and inspected annually because if the system is compromised, it creates a fire hazard. It's best not to merely assume that a chimney system is in good working condition, no matter the circumstances.

What does blowing cinnamon in your house do?

Blowing the cinnamon into the home. The ritual is based on the idea that the front door represents the gateway between the outside world and a person's spiritual space. When the cinnamon falls to the floor, it's believed to invite prosperity into the home.

Does cinnamon remove smoke smell?

Other things that people use to remove smoke smells often do no more than mask the smell for a short period of time. Scented candles, cinnamon sticks, and air fresheners, for example.

Do you need an air purifier if you have a wood stove?

1 A small, preliminary study suggests air purifiers equipped with high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters can lower the amount of indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and smoke from woodstoves, potentially reducing residents' risk of cardiovascular disease from exposure to these air pollutants.

How do I keep my house warm all night with a wood stove?

In an extended fire, you load large pieces of wood into your wood burning stove, tightly packed, so the fire slowly spreads from log to log, extending your burn for 6 to 8 hours or more. You won't need to reload any time soon. This sort of burn maintains a low, steady heat that can stay burning all night.

How often should a wood stove be emptied?

Empty the ashes

Ash should be removed from the firebox every two to three days of full time heating. Ash should not accumulate excessively in the firebox since it will affect the proper operation of the appliance.

What cancels out the smell of smoke?

Try wiping down furniture, washable walls, floors, etc. with white vinegar. Also, try placing several bowls of vinegar around the room with the smoke damage, leaving them there for several days. If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, try mixing a bit of lavender oil into the bowls to help cut the odor of the vinegar.

How long will a bowl of vinegar absorb odors?

A bowl of vinegar can start absorbing odors almost immediately and is typically adequate for up to 24 hours. When left out in a room, the acetic acid in vinegar neutralizes alkaline odors, such as those from smoke, cooking, or pet accidents, by binding with the odor molecules and neutralizing them.

Previous article
Is it hard to sell a house with oil heat?
Next article
Where is the silence button on a smoke alarm?