| Closed Damper |
Before starting a fire,
always check to make sure that the damper is open. If not sure, shine a
flashlight up inside the fireplace to make sure the metal damper is open. |
| Dirty Chimney |
Creosote buildup in a chimney is not only
flammable but can shrink the flue size and cause smoking problems,
especially since creosote does expand when heated by the fire. The solution is to have it
inspected and swept by
a CSIA Certified
Chimney Sweep. |
| Obstruction in Chimney |
The chimney should be checked
for any obstruction such as bird nests, tree branches, leaves, or even the
missing volley ball! Also, a
dirty chimney cap will prevent smoke from freely exiting a chimney. |
| Cold Weather |
Colder temperatures can
create a plug of dense air in the chimney flue. Open the damper and "Prime"
the flue by rolling up a newspaper, light the end and hold it inside the
fireplace by the damper for a minute or two. This will warm up the
air temperature in the chimney flue and create a better draw for your fire. |
| Fire Grate Placement |
The fire grate must be placed as
far back in the fireplace as possible in order to encourage the smoke to go
up the chimney flue and not into the living area. Sometimes it also helps to
raise the grate with bricks to help the chimney draw. |
| Fuel |
Wood must be aged a minimum
of one year and must be dry and protected from the rain. It should be
split--never burn whole logs. Some types of "presto" or store-bought
manufactured logs may also be prone to smoking. |
| New Windows and Doors |
New doors and windows in a
house are constructed with sealing materials that make a house more air
tight. This can create a negative pressure in the house and not allow enough
makeup air for a fire. To overcome this, open a door or window a crack at
the same level and as close to the fireplace as possible during the fire.
|
| Improper Chimney Size |
A masonry chimney that was not built with the
proper dimensions for the fireplace opening and flue size will be more
inclined to have smoking problems. Many times installing a
Smoke
Guard will resolve the problem. Also, most two-sided fireplaces will
have smoking problems due to sensitivity to air drafts inside the house. |
| Chimney Too Short |
If a chimney does not have
adequate height, it can affect how it draws and will make it sensitive to
smoking. In some cases the only solution is to raise the chimney height. |
| Central Heating System |
When using the central heater
at the same time as having a fire, air can actually be drawn down through
the chimney bringing the smoke and gases into the living area. This is
particularly hazardous when using gas logs since the gas will be colorless
and odorless--but toxic! Do not run the heater when the fireplace is in use. |
| Canyons and Hillsides |
A house that is located near
a canyon, hillside or slope can have smoking problems due to the wind
currents. A specially designed wind cap can sometimes help minimize the smoking. |
