Why wont my chimney draw properly?

Why wont my chimney draw properly?

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Discussion

Engineer1

10,486 posts

208 months

Monday 22nd February 2010
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Check as well thaht it isn't a freakishly still day, my parent's chimney draws well normally but on very still days there doesn't seem to be the air movement to generate a draw.

Agent L

Original Poster:

151 posts

186 months

Thursday 25th February 2010
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Yesterday I raised the floor height within the fireplace by 2 bricks, heated the chimney as best I could before lighting the fire, then did the newspaper over the front thing to really restrict the opening as it got going. The result was still a lounge full of smoke frown

I don't think it's going to be possible. I managed to track down a stove fitter though who should come to take a look next week and see what's possible regarding fitting a stove just using the existing clay liner. If that's not possible then it looks like we wont be having a fire at all for the time being.

Engineer1

10,486 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th February 2010
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Try burning something that will produce a good smoke, so oily rag or similar, only a small bit and see if the smoke even heads up the chimney, then try again with a window open.

Agent L

Original Poster:

151 posts

186 months

Thursday 25th February 2010
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Engineer1 said:
Try burning something that will produce a good smoke, so oily rag or similar, only a small bit and see if the smoke even heads up the chimney, then try again with a window open.
I did open the window yesterday too and it made no difference.

Stigproducts

1,730 posts

270 months

Thursday 25th February 2010
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Agent L said:
Yesterday I raised the floor height within the fireplace by 2 bricks, heated the chimney as best I could before lighting the fire, then did the newspaper over the front thing to really restrict the opening as it got going. The result was still a lounge full of smoke frown

I don't think it's going to be possible. I managed to track down a stove fitter though who should come to take a look next week and see what's possible regarding fitting a stove just using the existing clay liner. If that's not possible then it looks like we wont be having a fire at all for the time being.
I have just been through exactly the same thing. Like you my thoughts were that if the fireplace and chimney were always there what has changed to stop it drawing?

In my case, i took the crappy little chimney pot off and raised the fire up a bit (2 bricks), the chimney pot was the main problem though.

It was a pathetic little thing diameter about 6 inches probably put there as a vent when it was bricked up. The actual chimey is about 4 times bigger and now it draws like a goodun. I will need a new pot, but a proper big one.

S70JPS

619 posts

219 months

Monday 20th June 2011
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Reviving an old thread but having a similar problem. I've removed an old gas fire and want to fit a widescreen type gas fire. The gas man lit a smoke pellet and filled the room. Had the thing swept today and got rid of some old birds nest type debris. Put a smoke pellet in no different. Obviously with a gas pipe in there I can't heat it up. There is a terracotta cowl on the top but the sweep said he had got up and into that. Has anyone had similar probelms and how did you resolve them. Advice much appreciated.