Why Does My Fireplace Smoke?

Fireplace Accessories, Patio Heaters, SkeeterVac, Mosquito Magnet, and More!


	Items: 0 Total: $0.00

Why Does My Fireplace Smoke?

Back to Smoking Fireplace Fixes

This is a question we get often here at NorthlineExpress.com. Where there's fire there's smoke, and when the fire is in your fireplace or wood stove you need that smoke to vent outside. The problem is that this does not always happen as planned. If your fireplace is dumping smoke into your home there is generally 1 of 2 reasons, you didn't open the damper or your fireplace has a drafting problem.

The fireplace's flue is most likely the cause of this problem. The flue is the part of your fireplace that runs from the top of your woodstove or fireplace opening (usually at the top of the inside of the fireplace) through the chimney to the outside air. Poor drafting can be caused by a number of factors, some are minor fixes and some are more involved. First we will look at the principals of how a fireplace works. Then we will talk about why your fireplace may not be drafting properly and give you ideas about how you can fix these problems.

There are many things that can cause a chimney to vent improperly. We will address these problems individually to help you find your solution faster.

Problem: Fireplace Smokes ALL THE TIME - Let's get the obvious out of the way first, damper is closed, flue is clogged with a nest (animals like birds, bees, raccoons, squirrels, etc. like chimney flues), extreme creosote buildup, or other type of blockage. If you have smoke simply pouring into your home whenever you attempt to start a fire you should either call a professional chimney sweep or get some Chimney Cleaning Supplies and begin cleaning. See How to Clean a Chimney for help.

Problem: Fireplace Smokes SOMETIMES - This takes some investigation. Don't just assume it is because of one thing or another. There are so many possible causes for a smoking fireplace that you can spend a ton of money guessing what the problem is. But with some investigation you can usually narrow it down to just 1 or 2 possibilities. Ask yourself the following questions:

First ask yourself these questions:	Solutions to Problems:
Is my damper opening all the way?	If your damper is not opened all the way and will not open all the way call a chimney professional and have it replaced/repaired. You may also consider removing your inefficient throat damper and replacing it with a much more efficient Top Sealing Damper Cap. It will pay for itself in no time.
When was the last time I had the chimney cleaned and inspected?	You should clean your chimney in between every season. This will keep hazardous creosote from building up in your flue and also help your fireplace draft better. It will reduce smells in the summer time and eliminate the potential for dangerous chimney fires. See How to Clean a Chimney for help. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Supplies.
Have I added any structures that may be obstructing the draft of my chimney (home additions, garages/outbuildings with high roofs, etc.)?	If you have added additions to your home or built a new garage, pole barn, or other outbuilding with a high roof it may be causing the problem. Usually this can be fixed by adding length to your flue. A Flue Stretcher may be all you need. If this does not work an Exhausto Fan may be a better choice.
Have any large trees, plants, shrubs grown up too close to my chimney over the years?	Trees and shrubs can be cut back and trimmed. If this is not an option again an Exhausto Fan will do the trick.
Have I installed new windows, siding, insulation, knocked down walls or made any other structural changes to the interior/exterior of my home?	If you have done any major renovations to your home especially those making it better insulated (which in turn means better sealed and less "breathing") then you may have effected the pressure in your home. Consider checking into an Outside Air Kit if you think your home is sealed better than before. If your home is more opened up then you may have too much free air, try turning on exhaust fans, closing doors to other rooms in the home, or once again consider an Exhausto Fan.
Does my fireplace smoke only during high winds?	This could be due to a downdraft created by high winds. There are chimney caps designed to deflect wind turning it into more of a venturi action causing the smoke to be sucked out of the chimney but these are never a sure fix. Be careful that you don't undersize your masonry flue by adding one of these caps. See our VacuStack Chimney Caps for more information. If this does not work or if you cannot find one that will not reduce your flue size then the Exhausto Fan will work.
Does my fireplace smoke only when I first start a fire?	The most usual cause of this is cold weather but many other things like opened windows, running clothes dryers, bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans etc. can have the same effect. If this is not the problem start checking that all windows in the home are closed, fans are off, and the clothes dryer and furnace is off. If this does not work try closing doors in the home to reduce the air volume especially a basement door. Check out our Fire Starting Tips page for more information. For stoves that use chimney pipe you can also check out the Tjernlund Draft Inducer.
Do small amounts of smoke leak out the top of my fireplace?	This can be caused by an undersized flue/oversized fireplace. A sometimes simple solution is the addition of a Smoke Guard. The smoke guard reduces the size of your fireplace opening and may reduce it enough to create a proper draft.
Does my fireplace smoke sporadically with no pattern?	Obviously these can be the most difficult ones to solve but usually have the simplest solutions. This can be caused by doors opening and closing, exhaust fans turning on and off, windows being opened (a opened window in an upstairs bedroom can cause a fireplace to smoke), clothes dryers, or anything that would effect the air pressure in your home. All of these things suck air out of your home creating a vacuum in your home making your flue act like a straw. Makeup Air Kits are available to force air into your home.