Smoke rolling out of the firebox instead of up the flue has half a dozen causes, and most of them are free to test. Here is the order to check them in before you call anyone.
You light the first fire of the season and within a minute the room is hazy. The instinct is to blame the chimney, but a fireplace that smokes is a draft problem, and draft is a chain: cold air comes in, hot gas goes up, and anything that interrupts the chain sends smoke back at you. Work through it in this order.
The most common cause, and the most embarrassing one. A half open damper looks open from the room. Reach up and feel the plate: it should swing to vertical and stay there. If it grinds or drops, it is rusted, and that is a repair, not a technique problem.
Modern houses are sealed. Run a range hood, a bathroom fan or a dryer and the house goes negative, which means the easiest path for makeup air is down your chimney. Test it: crack a window near the fireplace by an inch and see if the smoke stops. If it does, you have an air supply problem, not a chimney problem, and the fix is a fresh air source rather than anything on the roof.
Cold air in a flue is heavy and sits there like a plug, especially on an exterior chimney on the first cool morning of the year. Roll a sheet of newspaper, light it and hold it up inside the damper opening for a minute before you light the fire. You are warming the column so it starts moving up. If that cures it, nothing is wrong with your chimney.
Smoke needs the right ratio between the firebox opening and the flue area, roughly one to ten for a masonry fireplace. Houses that were remodeled, had a larger opening cut, or got a wood stove connected into an old oversized flue break that ratio and smoke no matter how clean everything is. The fixes are real but structural: a smoke guard, a rebuilt smoke chamber, or a correctly sized liner.
Check the damper, then crack a window, then warm the flue. Those three cost nothing and solve most cases. If smoke still comes into the room, the next step is a look up the flue with a camera, because at that point you are dealing with a blockage or a sizing problem, and both are answered by seeing the inside rather than guessing. That inspection is free with us and comes with the photos.
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Noah was professional, knowledgeable, and extremely thorough while working on both my air ducts and chimney. He took the time to explain everything and made sure the work was done properly from start to finish.
Read on GoogleWe used Air Duct Busters for a chimney inspection and cleaning. Noah contacted us with his expected time of arrival. He was on time, pleasant, courteous and knowledgeable. He explained what he looks for in an inspection.
Read on GoogleThese guys were amazing! In 35 minutes they diagnosed safety issues, did the cleaning and gave me all my options for making fixes. Will definitely be calling them again!
Read on GoogleHad Noah come and inspect and clean chimney. Provided details and explained process and educated on potential hazards. Great job thank you!
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