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Smoking Fireplaces: Causes and Solutions
Due to improper design, many fireplace openings are too large for the flue size. Try these experiments to bring your smoking fireplace problems under control. Once we know the results of your experimentation, we can take steps to fix the problem permanently.
- Lower the lintel height. Take a piece of aluminum foil as long as your firebox opening is wide. Fold the foil in haif and then in half again. Tape the foil over the lintel area of your firebox. By reducing the size of the opening, the flue will be able to handle the capacity of smoke. if this helps, but does not completely solve the problem, go to the next experiment.
- Take four pieces of non-combustible material (like pieces of brick). Place the brick under each leg of your grate; raising the grate to allow the proper amount of oxygen under the fire.
- Make sure all the ashes have been removed from the firebox floor. This build up of ash could be contributing to a lack of oxygen which could cause smoking.
- if your house is fairly airtight, the fire may not be getting enough oxygen. You might try opening a door or window on the windward side of the house.
- If your fireplace smokes when you first start the fire, try preheating the flue with a burning piece of newspaper. Hold the paper at the top of the firebox backwall. (Be careful not to bum your finger). This little bit of heat will get some buoyancy started inthe flue. The heavy cold air in the flue will be chased out by the waim buoyant air. Take the burning paper and place it under the grate. This should ignite your paper and kindling. This is also a way to be certain your damper is open before you light a fire.
- If your fire puffs on windy days, a flue cap on the chimney top may prevent the puffs that come down the chimney.
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