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ASI Weblog
When I burn a fire in my fireplace, why does smoke occasionally back up into my home?
Any number of conditions can contribute to smoking problems in a fireplace. In some cases, some relatively simple measures may improve conditions. In others, further evaluation and more extensive repairs may be necessary. A certified chimney sweep is usually the appropriate professional to consult for fireplace or chimney problems.
Here are some possible practical solutions to aggravating smoke problems:
- Raise Hearth. A fireplace opening can be decreased by raising the back of the hearth. To experiment, a sheet metal hearth can be supported on bricks placed on the existing hearth. If this experiment improves the fire, the back hearth may be raised by firebrick masonry, and the front hearth may also be built up.
- Canopy Hood. An experimental model of a canopy hood can be made of sheet metal and temporarily attached over the top of the fireplace opening. Try various designs and sizes. If the hood works well, a permanent metal hood can be installed.
- Extend chimney. The higher the chimney, the better the draft. A good draft is usually provided by a chimney which is 20 feet high or more from hearth to the top of the chimney. If the existing chimney is short (less than 15 feet) a good draft (or upward movement of the flue gases) may just not be able to develop. One or more metal chimney sections can be temporarily installed on top of an existing chimney to test whether the draft is improved before a more permanent and expensive fix is tried.
- Trim trees. Wavering smoke patterns above the chimney may indicate that tall trees are causing downdraft. The trees should be trimmed and/or flue height extended to determine if the trees are the cause.
- Chimney cap or Flueguard. If downdrafts appear to affect the exhaust gases, a chimney cap or flueguard, of metal or stone, may be tried to deflect the air from entering the chimney.
- Draft inducer. When no other remedies work, consideration may be given to a fan that forces air up the chimney. Such draft inducing equipment must be professionally installed, specifically designed for the purpose, and must be listed by an approved testing agency. Periodic inspection and maintenance will be required.
Any of these suggestions, as a possible means of correcting smoking fireplace conditions, may be only the first step in some situations. If there are major fireplace deficiencies or the chimney has deteriorated, more drastic measures will be needed. The only practical options in some cases may be to rebuild the fireplace and/or chimney. Replacing the existing fireplace with a gas-fired unit coupled to a new metal flue inside the defective chimney, is also an option as is the installation of an electric fireplace (sealing off the old chimney entirely).
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