Pyramid Masonry & Chimney Lining Company

SMOKE PROBLEMS

Smoking Problems

Fireplace problems are numerous. One of the most common problems is smoking. Smoke and air come out of the fireplace and into your home. There are many causes for these symptoms. Here we will describe the various problems and situations that can cause smoking and offer possible solutions for each of them.

Chimneys operate on a very basic concept. The column of air in the chimney becomes heated by the fire below it and rises. As it rises, it draws air from your home to replace the air and smoke escaping from the top of the chimney. Any time something interrupts this suction you can have a smoking problem.

1. Problem - When you build a fire in your upstairs fireplace, you get smoke from the basement fireplace

2. Problem - Smoking occurs when you open the door of your wood stove or the glass doors of your fireplace

3. Problem - Smoking occurs when you open house doors

4. Problem – Your fireplace has always smoked

5. Problem – Your stove has always smoked

6. Problem – Your fireplace or Stove has started smoking when it has been fine in the past

7. Problem – Your fireplace or Stove is smoking at completely random times

8. Problem – Your fireplace or Stove is smoking when you first light your fire

Problem - When you build a fire in your upstairs fireplace, you get smoke from the basement fireplace

This problem is caused by a lack of available air to replace the air leaving your chimney. Homes built today are much more air tight than older houses. Weather proofing, which prevents air from entering your modern home, causes the air pressure in your house to drop when you have a fire. Typically the air is replaced by drawing air into the unused chimney flue along with smoke from the flue that is being used. The smoke then enters your home through the unused fireplace. The best solution is to provide another source of air entering your home. Cracking a window or door close to the fireplace you are using can do this. You can also install a fireplace vent that will bring outside air directly into your fireplace eliminating the problem of drafts from the cracked window or door. Other secondary solutions would be to install a top-sealing damper on the unused chimney flue. You could also try raising the flue of the unused chimney 6 – 12 inches.

Sometimes this problem is caused by air crossing between the flues inside your chimney through cracks in the flue liners or openings between unlined flues in older homes. Relining the chimney is the typical solution for this problem.

You should be aware that carbon monoxide could be drawn into your home along with the smoke. So the problem that seems like a nuisance can also be dangerous.

Problem - Smoking occurs when you open the door of your wood stove or the glass doors of your fireplace

This problem is caused by a rapid change in the air available to your chimney. Try opening the door(s) slowly to give the fire time to adjust to the new air. You can also open the dampers all the way a few minutes before you are going to open the door. Doing this will make the fire hotter and increase the draw of your chimney.

Problem - Smoking occurs when you open house doors

This problem is caused by a rapid change in the air pressure in your home. Introducing an outside air source should solve this problem.

Problem – Your fireplace has always smoked

There are numerous causes for this problem. One of those causes is faulty construction of the chimney. Your chimney should be at least two feet above any structure that is within ten feet of the flue opening. Even following this rule a short chimney may need to be raised several feet in order draw properly.

Your flue liner may not be sized correctly for your fireplace. The area of the opening of your fireplace should not be more than ten times the area of the flue opening. You can test whether your fireplace opening is too large by using a piece of sheet metal or bricks along the edge of the opening to decrease the size. If this works you can have a smoke shield installed to reduce the size of the opening permanently.

Your home may be too airtight for the chimney to draw properly. As described in the first problem above, the solution is to introduce a source of outside air to your home.

Problem – Your stove has always smoked

A flue liner that is improperly sized for your stove probably causes this problem. Relining your chimney with a flue of the proper size will solve this problem. Consult your stove manufacturer for the specific size liner needed. Pyramid Masonry can also help you with this problem by inspecting your chimney and stove and making recommendations for a solution.

Problem – Your fireplace or Stove has started smoking when it has been fine in the past

Your chimney must have been obstructed by something. Look at the top of the chimney to see if trees or vines have grown over the opening. Creosote may have built up on the chimney cap or in your flue. Look at the cap and make sure the screens haven’t been clogged. Also, check the flue for creosote build up or other obstructions, such as animal nests. If you do have animals living in your flue you should call a professional nuisance animal removal service. You don’t want to risk being bitten and possibly contracting rabies. Call Pyramid Masonry if you think you need your chimney cleaned and inspected.

Problem – Your fireplace or Stove is smoking at completely random times

These intermittent smoking problems are the hardest kind to pin point a source. The wind could be blowing the smoke back down your flue. You could try a specially designed chimney cap for the wind problem or even an electric exhaust fan.

An exhaust fan could be turned on in the bathroom or kitchen causing your air pressure in your home to drop and your chimney to reverse direction of flow. As described in the first problem above, the solution is to introduce a source of outside air to your home.

Problem – Your fireplace or Stove is smoking when you first light your fire

The chimney gases in your flue haven’t had a chance to heat up yet so the draw won’t be very strong at first. Be patient. Check your damper to make sure it is fully open. Before you light your fire, hold a piece of lit newspaper up into the flue opening or as close as you can to the stove outlet inside the stove to get the draft going and then try to light your wood. On some stoves you may need to leave the doors open until the fire has gotten a good start. Remember not to leave your stove unattended with the doors open.