Fireplace Fix
10/13/2011 at 6:09:23 PM
We have a wood burning fireplace that is poorly designed and smokes. We need to fix it. I think the opening is too large in proportion to the depth and the top of the firebox is flat across, even with the opening, up to the hole to the chimney. When we put a metal baffle across the top of the opening, it smokes a lot less, but I'd like to know a better or more permanent fix. It is a brick and stone fireplace in an old adobe house. Does anyone have any formulas for the proportions of the opening:depth ratio? The measurements are approx. 30 inches square for the opening, with a depth of 19 inches.
2/20/2012 at 12:23:02 PM
If you have any pictures they would be helpful.
Most of the time the smoke flowing back into the house is a draft problem. There are a few things to check to help elinate the problem.
#1) Make sure the chimney is free from obstructions, birds, squirrel and other critters like to build nests in the chimneys. Have it cleaned and inspcted to make sure there are no structural problems.
#2 Make sure the flue is operating properly and not closed off completely.
#3 when burning a fire in the fire place make sure there is adequate air flow to allow for the transfer of heat and smoke to exit the chimney, try cracking a window an inch or so in the same room as the fireplace. Hot air rises, but if there is not a good fresh air source it can impede the smoke from rising up the chimney.
Hopefully this helps solve your problem.
5/15/2012 at 1:19:18 PM
I'd have to agree with Gary, that it is likely a draft problem.
There can be many factors that contribute to draft problems, and it can be rather complex, but understanding it is the first step.
Here is an article an old chimney pro I know wrote on chimney airflow: http://www.highschimney.com/articles/chimey-airflow-problems/
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