Smoke Related Problems and Fireplaces

Having a fireplace is a wonderful addition to aprofessional take care of this for you, and
family home. Unfortunately sometimes problemshopefully that will clear up your smoke related
arise. One of the most common problems withproblem.
fireplaces are smoke related. Once a homeownerAnother common smoke related problem caused
encounters a smoke problem, they will usuallyby a chimney flue is a break in the liner. A gap or
stop using their fireplace, when in actuality all theybreak in a chimney liner will cause smoke from
have to do is discover what is creating theone flue to go into the other flue creating a
problem and fix it.smoky room. Unfortunately the solution to this is
Some common smoke related problems arerather expensive because you will have to have
smoky startups, smoky endings, constantthe chimney relined.
smoking, and smoke related problems on windyIf your smoke problem is created by a chimney
days and damp days. An easy way to detectcap being too short, you are in luck because this
smoke related problems is to shine a flashlightis actually an easy solution. Usually a chimney cap
across the fireplace opening, usually the lightshould be about 5 inches from the top of the liner.
reflecting off of the smoke particles will make itIf it is less than that it may cause smoke to go
easy to see.into the room. If you suspect this is your problem
If your fire smokes at start up, it could behave a chimney professional check your chimney
caused by a down draft in a second flue. Becausecap height and replace it if needed.
some chimneys contain more than one flue, whichThese are just a few common issues that can
is a vertical passageway, cold air sinking down theaffect your fireplace and how smoke can backup
second flue can bring smoke from the fireplaceinto the house. If you encounter any of these
into the home.problems there's no need to give up on using
This creates a situation where the smoke isyour fireplace, Just have a professional check the
traveling up one flue and down the next. If thefireplace for any possible problems and do the
room where the smoke is found contains annecessary repairs. Then you can enjoy the
opening to a second flue the easiest solution is topleasure of a rip roaring fire on a cool fall evening.
seal up the flue. Usually you can have a fireplace