Amonia smell from chimney

[Dave G]

I have just pointed my chimney in the loft and it produced a very strong amonia smell, have any of you brilliant people any ideas what causes this and how do I stop it happening again if nescessary,
many Thanks dave G

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S., fly ash, recovered from coal fired power plants, is used in mortar mixes as a substitute or addition to cement. Fly ash often, when used in mortar, produces Ammonia, since the electrical producing companies inject ammonia into the flue stack for various reasons. This will dissipate over a period of time, but one can check the contents of the mortar mix and assure it contains cement products only...
Best of luck!

[mr-wonderful]

There's a dead person with a perm up your chimney maaaaan! Maybe it's Leo Sayer innit?

Yaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Dave G]

Hi Clanad
Many thanks
It appears that the cement mix reacts with the lime mortar mix that the chimney had when the property was built and the soot residue didn't help
I have rated your answer
Great thanks
Dave g

[Teddio]

Ammonium compounds (eg.ammonium sulphate) are stable and odourless. However when an ammonium salt is added to an alkaline solution such as mortar mix, ammonia gas is liberated. The ammonium compound is most likely to be in the old mortar. Very old bird poo may be responsible!

[Dave G]

1st class answer Teddio
many thanks
but by god it smells
Dave G