Why do some chimneys smoke and others don t?

Dampers come in many shapes and sizes, so the one you have on your chimney may not be the correct design for the size fireplace you have. If this is the case, it's time to get a new damper. If it isn't the right fit, it can accumulate smoke that will eventually have nowhere to go except back into your home.

Why does smoke sometimes not go up the chimney?

Smoke sometimes won't go up a chimney because there is a column of cold air in the chimney flue that pushes the smoke back into the home. It's important to check the draft before lighting a fire, to be sure priming isn't needed.

Should smoke come out of chimney?

A modern chimney should produce little smoke when the heating system runs smoothly. White smoke coming from your chimney isn't necessarily a bad sign. Depending on the heating equipment installed in your home, wispy white smoke could be a normal byproduct of operation.

How do I stop my chimney from smoking?

Why does my fireplace get so smoky?

Damp firewood produces more smoke than a flue can handle and will cause back-puffing. On the other hand, firewood that's too dry and old can also cause problems with smoke blowing back into your home. While you want your firewood to be dry, when it's old and brittle there will be a more intense fire with more smoke.

Common Wood Stove and Firplace Backdraft Smoke Issues

How can I improve my chimney draw?

What causes a fireplace not to draw?

Chimney needs to be cleaned: Creosote build up in the chimney can reduce the the flow of exhaust gasses which can cause fireplace smoke and may also lead to a chimney fire. A shattered chimney flue can also cause drafting problems. Hire a chimney sweep to inspect your fireplace for damage and have the flue cleaned.

What color should the smoke be coming out of my chimney?

The smoke coming out of your chimney should be almost colorless and thin. Thick, white or black smoke indicates that your fire is not receiving enough air. Woodstoves, fireplaces, and barbecues should be used in such a way as to minimize the impact on neighbors.

Does smoke mean creosote?

When the oils in the wood aren't completely burned, they off-gas as volatiles and travel up through the smoke. The smoke cools as it rises, and ultimately condenses with water and other chemicals on the interior of your chimney and flue. This residue is called creosote.

How often does chimney need to be cleaned?

HETAS encourage having your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels. The best times to have your chimney swept are just before the start of the heating season and after your stove has not been used over a prolonged period.

How do you stop Backdraft in a fireplace?

Try opening a window near the fireplace to increase airflow into the home before opening the fireplace door. The area will be exposed to more air, allowing for less to be immediately taken through the chimney. Also, consider using a fan or turning on exhaust fans to troubleshoot this problem.

How do I know if my chimney is blocked?

Should I crack a window when using fireplace?

To alleviate this problem, make sure that your basement fireplace damper is closed. The best solution is to crack a window in the basement (about a quarter of an inch) when you use your upstairs fireplace.

Will a hot fire burn off creosote?

Creosote is a contaminant that is naturally produced during the chemical reaction of combustion when burning a fire. It is an oily, tarry substance that is highly flammable. A spark from an ember is all it takes to set the chimney alight. Creosote will continue to accumulate with every fire unless it is removed.

How do I prevent creosote buildup in my chimney?

At what temp does creosote build up?

The creosote will condense at any point in the pipe or chimney where the temperature drops below 250oF. Between 150o and 250oF, this condensed creosote deposit is quite fluid. lt can often be seen as dark streaks that have flowed down outside of the chimney.

Why does some wood burn black smoke?

Dense, black smoke is a sign that the combustion is not optimal, usually because the fire in the wood stove is not intense enough. When the wood stove burns optimally, only a bit of steam and some light, odour-free smoke escapes from the chimney.

What is the 2 10 rule?

A chimney must project at least 3 feet above the roof on its shortest side and also be at least 2 feet above any roof structure that is within a 10 foot radius of the chimney. That's it. Following this simple rule helps to ensure other structures on the roof do not interfere with the exhaustion of combustion gases.

How do you check for chimney draw?

How do you fix a chimney draft problem?

Chimney height

As the warm air within the chimney rises, taller chimneys filled with more hot air will produce a stronger draft. Because of this fact, homeowners may be able to solve their drafting issues by adding several feet of height to their chimneys.

How do I increase the airflow in my chimney?

This is especially common when the fireplace is in a lower floor, where the air is cooler. It's easy to correct this problem. Simply open a window or door in the fireplace room to allow outside air into the room and equalize pressure.

Does a taller chimney draft better?

Taller Chimneys Produce Stronger Draft

If draft problems are experienced with short systems, consider adding to the chimney height. If draft problems are experienced with systems higher than the recommended minimum system height, adding to the chimney may have little or no effect.

Does a fire in the fireplace make the house colder?

The standard fireplace is among the most inefficient heating devices you can operate. In fact, it can be so inefficient that in some cases it actually makes your house colder.