Messages and Online Forum Q&A

Re: fireplace

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Other/Misc
Remote Name: 63.198.181.43
Date: 25 Oct 2000
Time: 09:03 PM

Comments

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. However, if your problem is that you're getting smoke inside the house, there are generally a few possible causes:

1) Insufficient or partially closed/blocked flue. If your flue has years of accumulation -- coupled with inadequate length or too many bends, this can lead to improper venting and there won't be enough updraft to carry away all the smoke.

2) If you have a tight, well insulated home and your fireplace does not have a localized fresh air intake, then the fire will be starved for oxygen, resulting in excessive smoke -- some of which may be sucked into the house, particularly if you have a forced air furnace running concurrently.

3) Other factors can be an improperly sized firebox. It sounds from your posting that you have enlarged your opening. There is an optimum ratio of opening size to box size. If you can provide us measurements of your actual fireplace, we might be able to help diagnose your problem further. Specifically, what is the depth, width, and height of the fireplace? What is the diameter of the flue? Are you sure the flue is fully opened? What is the estimated length of the flue from the top of the firebox to the top of the chimney? Are there any known "bends" in the flue? Has the chimney been cleaned? Could there be anything blocking the flue, such as a birds nest or other obstruction?

Let us know and we'll respond back with some additional tips.

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