Smoking fireplace

SIKSUKR · 09-06-2013, 01:11 PM

If you didn't have a cap before then I would suspect that as the culprit.I would do as ITD suggested.

camp guy · 09-06-2013, 03:23 PM

First, check to see that the damper is open all the way. If it is, then try the window trick. If this doesn't help, it could be that the cap is too close to the opening of the chimney and has reduced the amount of opening for exhaust to a space smaller than necessary.

Also, if this is a situation you are experiencing just now it could be that you are not building a hot enough fire to really heat up the chimney and get a good draft going. Sometimes, in the early fall, people build a small fire to "just take the edge off" and this creates a problem in that the products of combustion basically, creosote) aren't fully exhausted and precipitate out onto the walls of the chimney. Then, a little later, when you build a much more robust fire you run the risk of igniting these precipitated by-products and experiencing a chimney fire (not fun).

I would check the draft as a first line of diagnosis.

Pineedles · 09-06-2013, 09:06 PM

Tell the firm that put the cap on to get their collective A$$$'s down there and solve the problem. Be nice, but firm! It was OK before they did their work, and now it ain't.

09-06-2013, 01:11 PM	#1
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	If you didn't have a cap before then I would suspect that as the culprit.I would do as ITD suggested. __________________ SIKSUKR

09-06-2013, 03:23 PM	#2
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,192 Thanks: 302 Thanked 528 Times in 295 Posts	Smoking fireplace First, check to see that the damper is open all the way. If it is, then try the window trick. If this doesn't help, it could be that the cap is too close to the opening of the chimney and has reduced the amount of opening for exhaust to a space smaller than necessary. Also, if this is a situation you are experiencing just now it could be that you are not building a hot enough fire to really heat up the chimney and get a good draft going. Sometimes, in the early fall, people build a small fire to "just take the edge off" and this creates a problem in that the products of combustion basically, creosote) aren't fully exhausted and precipitate out onto the walls of the chimney. Then, a little later, when you build a much more robust fire you run the risk of igniting these precipitated by-products and experiencing a chimney fire (not fun). I would check the draft as a first line of diagnosis.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

The Following User Says Thank You to SIKSUKR For This Useful Post:
welch100 (09-07-2013)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to camp guy For This Useful Post:
GsChinadoll (09-06-2013), welch100 (09-07-2013)

09-06-2013, 09:06 PM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,545 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 668 Times in 367 Posts	Tell the firm that put the cap on to get their collective A$$$'s down there and solve the problem. Be nice, but firm! It was OK before they did their work, and now it ain't.