1) Why does my chimney
smoke?
2) Why is there water
dripping inside of my chimney?
3) Why does my damper not
open/close?
4) Why is my fire back
wall flaking in places?
5) Why does my chimney
have a strange odor?
6) Why does cold air come
into my chimney?
7) Why does my chimney
not draw correctly?
1) Why does my chimney smoke?
Answer: A chimney can smoke for a number of reasons ranging from problems with the chimney to operator error.
Here are some reasons that can cause a chimney to smoke:
1. A plugged chimney cap. If your chimney cap is plugged up with soot then there is no way for the smoke to exit outside and the only other way is into your home.
Before After
2.A dirty chimney can also cause your chimney to smoke. Soot build up is like cholesterol build up in a person. The more and more build up the harder and harder it is for the smoke to exit your chimney.
Before After
2) Why is there water dripping inside of my chimney?
Answer: The reason there is water dripping in your chimney is because there is no rain cap arrestor on your chimney. Most chimneys have an 8"X17" opening (some tiles are bigger or smaller) for smoke to exit. If you had a hole in your roof and ceiling would you cover it up? Why not your chimney? Remember this is an opening where water can come in a cause a lot of damage to your chimney and your pocket book.
3) Why does my damper not open/close?
Answer: There could be a few things wrong to make your damper not open or close.
1) The damper could be rusted because of water dripping in from not having a flue cap. This is a very common problem. Squirting DW-40 in any joint area may help loosen up your damper. If that doesn't work get a hammer and hit the damper blade. This may free it up. If none of these work then removing the damper and putting in a top damper is your next option.
2) When the chimney was built there may be excess mortar interfering with the damper blade. Getting a hammer and chisel and freeing up the area being affected may help out.
3) The smoke chamber behind the damper blade may have an extreme amount of soot and ash that may be blocking the path of the damper blade. Cleaning out behind the damper to free up that area may help you out.
4) If you have a prefab chimney your damper may be dislodged, chain may be disconnected, etc. Realigning, putting back in place or whatever may be required may solve the problem.
4) Why is my fire back wall flaking in places?
Answer: When your fire back wall flakes in places is called spalling. Spalling occurs when water soaks into a brick and much like shale and slate a brick flakes off in sheets. Once a brick begins to spall theres is not much you can do about it but fix the problem where water may be entering. Any attempts to cover up any spalling only acts as a band aid and will only be temporary.
5) Why does my chimney have a strange odor?
Answer: Any strange odors that are coming from your chimney may be the result of a several things:
`1) Creosote may be building up in your chimney. If it smells like bad barbecue and you are experiencing headaches, nausea etc then you may have creosote.
2) Leaves may have fallen into your chimney and settled behind your damper blade in the smoke chamber and is beginning to mulch. This combined with damp ash and soot may produce a bad odor.
3) Water may be collecting behind the smoke chamber and give your chimney a damp smell.
4) If any animals entered your chimney they may have left "presents" for you in your smoke chamber.
5) If any animals have entered your chimney and were unable to get out may have passed away. The smell may be from this.
6) Why does cold air come into my chimney?
Answer: Cold air is coming into your chimney because your damper may be open. Closing your damper will keep a good portion of cold air from entering your chimney. If your damper is warped, frozen or missing then installing a top damper is the perfect solution. Top dampers are 100% air tight and are lifetime guaranteed.
7) Why does my chimney not draw correctly?
Answer:
Before After
The Results
Since the soot is inside your chimney beyond your vision most people live with the motto "out of sight, out of mind." Here's a video that demonstrates what happens when you disturb the soot in your chimney:
3. Make sure the damper blade inside your fire box is opened. This is one of the most common things people forget to do when building a fire so don't feel embarrassed. Opening and closing the damper is very easy: Pull open, push closed.
4. Make sure the white ash underneath your fire grate is cleared aside. If the white ash piles up under the grate there is no chance for the red coals to radiate heat. It is the same as dousing a cigarette out in ash or pouring sand on a camp fire. Oxygen has no way of getting under the fire to help it breathe if white ash is under it and will cause it to smoke.
5. More on the fire grate, if your fireplace has a sunken fire box you need to raise your grate to be above the hearth floor to allow air to easily get under the grate.
Fire grate under air passage way Fire grate above air passage way
4. Make sure the white ash underneath your fire grate is cleared aside. If the white ash piles up under the grate there is no chance for the red coals to radiate heat. It is the same as dousing a cigarette out in ash or pouring sand on a camp fire. Oxygen has no way of getting under the fire to help it breathe if white ash is under it and will cause it to smoke.
5. More on the fire grate, if your fireplace has a sunken fire box you need to raise your grate to be above the hearth floor to allow air to easily get under the grate.
Fire grate under air passage way Fire grate above air passage way
6. Check to see the condition of your wood. If your wood is wet, not seasoned or has moss then your wood will smolder during your fire. When ever you see smoke coming into your house throw in loosely balled up newspaper! Newspaper is the quickest way to create the proper BTU's to push the smoke up your flue.
7. Make sure you prime the flue. Your chimney is like your car in the winter: you need to warm it up before you drive or else it will stall. Use wood kindling and lots and lots of newspaper to heat up your flue before you put on a log. REMEMBER smoke is very lazy and will look for its easiest way out. Always keep newspaper on hand and throw it on your fire the moment you see smoke entering your living room.
8. Make sure there is nothing blocking the entrance to your flue. If you do not have a cap on your chimney things from outside can come in through the opening of your chimney and potentially block the passageway that smoke needs to get out.
7. Make sure you prime the flue. Your chimney is like your car in the winter: you need to warm it up before you drive or else it will stall. Use wood kindling and lots and lots of newspaper to heat up your flue before you put on a log. REMEMBER smoke is very lazy and will look for its easiest way out. Always keep newspaper on hand and throw it on your fire the moment you see smoke entering your living room.
8. Make sure there is nothing blocking the entrance to your flue. If you do not have a cap on your chimney things from outside can come in through the opening of your chimney and potentially block the passageway that smoke needs to get out.
Answer: The reason there is water dripping in your chimney is because there is no rain cap arrestor on your chimney. Most chimneys have an 8"X17" opening (some tiles are bigger or smaller) for smoke to exit. If you had a hole in your roof and ceiling would you cover it up? Why not your chimney? Remember this is an opening where water can come in a cause a lot of damage to your chimney and your pocket book.
3) Why does my damper not open/close?
Answer: There could be a few things wrong to make your damper not open or close.
1) The damper could be rusted because of water dripping in from not having a flue cap. This is a very common problem. Squirting DW-40 in any joint area may help loosen up your damper. If that doesn't work get a hammer and hit the damper blade. This may free it up. If none of these work then removing the damper and putting in a top damper is your next option.
2) When the chimney was built there may be excess mortar interfering with the damper blade. Getting a hammer and chisel and freeing up the area being affected may help out.
3) The smoke chamber behind the damper blade may have an extreme amount of soot and ash that may be blocking the path of the damper blade. Cleaning out behind the damper to free up that area may help you out.
4) If you have a prefab chimney your damper may be dislodged, chain may be disconnected, etc. Realigning, putting back in place or whatever may be required may solve the problem.
4) Why is my fire back wall flaking in places?
Answer: When your fire back wall flakes in places is called spalling. Spalling occurs when water soaks into a brick and much like shale and slate a brick flakes off in sheets. Once a brick begins to spall theres is not much you can do about it but fix the problem where water may be entering. Any attempts to cover up any spalling only acts as a band aid and will only be temporary.
5) Why does my chimney have a strange odor?
Answer: Any strange odors that are coming from your chimney may be the result of a several things:
`1) Creosote may be building up in your chimney. If it smells like bad barbecue and you are experiencing headaches, nausea etc then you may have creosote.
2) Leaves may have fallen into your chimney and settled behind your damper blade in the smoke chamber and is beginning to mulch. This combined with damp ash and soot may produce a bad odor.
3) Water may be collecting behind the smoke chamber and give your chimney a damp smell.
4) If any animals entered your chimney they may have left "presents" for you in your smoke chamber.
5) If any animals have entered your chimney and were unable to get out may have passed away. The smell may be from this.
6) Why does cold air come into my chimney?
Answer: Cold air is coming into your chimney because your damper may be open. Closing your damper will keep a good portion of cold air from entering your chimney. If your damper is warped, frozen or missing then installing a top damper is the perfect solution. Top dampers are 100% air tight and are lifetime guaranteed.
7) Why does my chimney not draw correctly?
Answer:
