When you start having smoke pouring into your home from your fireplace, it is important to figure out what the problem is. Lakeview’s CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweeps can help. Here are a few items to review.
- Am I burning green or wet wood? Wood that has a high moisture content will naturally produce more smoke. Pre-seasoned wood has a moisture content between 15 to 25%.
- Am I warming my flue beforehand? As you know, hot air rises, and the chimney needs some heat to pull the smoke up and out. You may need to burn some rolled-up newspaper and hold it up into the chimney before lighting your fireplace.
- How big should my fire be? Not too big for your fireplace. If it is too big, you will have a lot of smoke. When building your fire, there should be space between the logs and the walls of your fireplace. Your logs should not extend up past the fireplace opening, and you should be able to see the tips of the flames in the opening.
- Is my chimney liner the wrong size for my fireplace or stove? There is a ratio for determining your correct liner size. Please call a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at Lakeview to help with this.
- Do I have a blocked chimney? Those little critters love to make your chimney their home. Dirty chimneys and blockages not only cause smoke problems but can cause chimney fires. You need a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep to sweep and inspect your chimney.
- Is my chimney tall enough? For proper drafting, your chimney needs to be a specific height. No other part of your home should be as tall as your chimney.
- Is it windy outside? The wind can affect the interior house pressures which can affect your fire. As you can see, there are many different issues that can cause smoke from your fireplace to pour into your home. We understand this can be very frustrating!
To have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a CSIA-Certified Chimney Sweep, please call Fired Up to have your system inspected and scanned with a camera. 218.525.5146
