Chimney stinks!
Discussion
Does it smoke when you're using it, or do you notice a tarry smell a day or two later when the fire has completely cooled? Do you have a metal flap in the top of the fireplace to blank it off? Do you blank off the chimney when not using it? Is it difficult to light with blowback at the beginning?
If so it may be that, during cold weather when the fire's not been used, the usual updraught reverses and cold air descends down the chimney, bringing the smell (and cold) with it - easy to feel with the back of your hand or prove with a lighted match. We get that problem with one chimney if I forget to block it off at the base with the metal flap when it's not in use.
If so it may be that, during cold weather when the fire's not been used, the usual updraught reverses and cold air descends down the chimney, bringing the smell (and cold) with it - easy to feel with the back of your hand or prove with a lighted match. We get that problem with one chimney if I forget to block it off at the base with the metal flap when it's not in use.
nomisesor said:
Does it smoke when you're using it, or do you notice a tarry smell a day or two later when the fire has completely cooled? Do you have a metal flap in the top of the fireplace to blank it off? Do you blank off the chimney when not using it? Is it difficult to light with blowback at the beginning?
If so it may be that, during cold weather when the fire's not been used, the usual updraught reverses and cold air descends down the chimney, bringing the smell (and cold) with it - easy to feel with the back of your hand or prove with a lighted match. We get that problem with one chimney if I forget to block it off at the base with the metal flap when it's not in use.
Your description is perfectly accurate!If so it may be that, during cold weather when the fire's not been used, the usual updraught reverses and cold air descends down the chimney, bringing the smell (and cold) with it - easy to feel with the back of your hand or prove with a lighted match. We get that problem with one chimney if I forget to block it off at the base with the metal flap when it's not in use.
Tarry smell - yes.
Metal flap - no.
Difficult to light with blowback - yes.
I can definitely feel cold air coming down the chimney so presumably it is bringing all the lovely smells in too.
Now, we don't have a metal flap in our chimney as the fireplace installer said it could not be fitted due to the original nature of the chimney i.e. not an easy shape to fit one!
Are there any other ways of effectively plugging the gap between fires?
Legend83 said:
Now, we don't have a metal flap in our chimney as the fireplace installer said it could not be fitted due to the original nature of the chimney i.e. not an easy shape to fit one!
Are there any other ways of effectively plugging the gap between fires?
I'd be interested in this answer as well - due to the type of fire we have there is no closing flap which can cause a draught when very cold/windy. Are there any other ways of effectively plugging the gap between fires?
The actual draw is very good when burning, though we get a little smoke billow past the front when fresh coal is added.
HTH!
Whatever you use, remember to take it out before you light the next fire - sounds obvious, but I've come home to find the house reeking as someone forgot...
To reverse the downdraught when starting the fire, get a sheet of newspaper and light it uncrumpled at the base of the flue. The rapid burn generates enough heat to overcome the downdraught and send a bolus of hot air up to reverse the flow, when your room heat and the fire (which you then start immediately afterwards) will maintain the updraught. Careful not to let go of the paper or it will disappear up the chimney, potentially igniting a poorly maintained flue.
Whatever you use, remember to take it out before you light the next fire - sounds obvious, but I've come home to find the house reeking as someone forgot...
To reverse the downdraught when starting the fire, get a sheet of newspaper and light it uncrumpled at the base of the flue. The rapid burn generates enough heat to overcome the downdraught and send a bolus of hot air up to reverse the flow, when your room heat and the fire (which you then start immediately afterwards) will maintain the updraught. Careful not to let go of the paper or it will disappear up the chimney, potentially igniting a poorly maintained flue.
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