Why Does My Fireplace Smoke Quick Tips for a Smoky Fireplace

1. Why Does My Fireplace Smoke? Quick Tips for a Smoky Fireplace Nothing beats relaxing in front of fire on a chilly night. However, when you’ve got a smoky fireplace the experience is less than relaxing. Fireplace smoke that doesn’t flow properly up through the chimney or flue can be an indication of a serious problem and is a safety issue for your home. Fireplace smoke in the house also can permeate carpeting, furniture and other fabrics causing odors that are hard to remove. Why Does My Fireplace Smoke? The job of a chimney or flue is to facilitate an updraft that pulls the hot gasses and smoke from the fire up and away from the living space. Anytime a chimney or flue fails to pull in the smoke from a fire, the result is fireplace smoke in the house. The reasons for this failure can vary, continue reading to find why your chimney may not be working properly. Green or Wet Firewood It is very important to choose properly seasoned wood to burn in your fireplace or furnace. If your wood is green or wet it will burn slower, less hot, and maybe incompletely. When green or wet wood is burned it often doesn’t burn hot enough to push the smoke up the chimney, causing the smoke to stall, and fall back down. Improper Use or Maintenance If your fireplace is releasing excess smoke into your home, you should first check the damper. The damper should be open in order to allow the smoke to rise up the chimney. If the damper lever is opened, the opening may be blocked by soot build-up or debris. Like the damper, if the chimney isn’t routinely cleaned, layers of soot can prevent the smoke from rising up the chimney and out of the home. You can schedule your routine chimney sweeping to have your chimney flue and damper cleaned thoroughly.

2. Venting Problem In order for gas to leave the home through the chimney, it has to pull from inside the home. When air is removed from the home it must be replaced. Modern homes are built tight, so air isn’t pulled from outside as the gases attempt to rise up the chimney. Even adding insulation or replacing windows in the home can create a smoke problem for this reason. An easy way to fix this problem is to open a window in another part of the home. Also, it’s important to note that other home appliances can compete with the ventilation of the chimney. Even something as simple and harmless as a ceiling fan can compete with your chimney. Also, a leaky chimney can disrupt the draft of your fireplace. Have You Had Your Chimney Inspected? Has it been a while since the chimney has been inspected? This is a sign that it’s time to schedule your appointment with a professional chimney sweep. Doing so will help you get to the bottom of the issue, so be sure to tell your chimney sweep about the smoking issues within your fireplace. In addition, your chimney is cleaned and ready to go, so you can rest easy knowing your home is safer. Call the Chimney Professionals Regardless of the cause, no home or business owner wants to deal with a smoke problem in the fireplace or furnace. Not only is it unpleasant, but it can cause respiratory issues if not corrected, and can also be a fire hazard. If the heated gases aren’t moving up the chimney, they can stall in the chimney flue and cause a flue fire. Because your chimney system is important, and the safety of your family and property are our top priority at SootMaster Chimney Sweep in Panama City FL. We recommend always calling on a professional if a smoking fireplace persists. Article Source: https://www.sootmaster.net/why-does-my-fireplace-smoke/