How do you prevent your house from smelling smoky after your fireplace fire goes out?

Question

While the fire is going, everything is fine. But after the fire starts to die out, and then overnight as the fire is out, the whole downstairs smells like burnt wood and it takes DAYS and a lot of airing out to get rid of the smell. Does anyone else have this problem? I don't have a glass door over my fireplace. It's open. Will a glass door help? I also have closed my flue before going to bed. Is that wrong?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You have to be sure the fire is 100% out, not smoldering embers, before you close your damper. And yes, if yo had a glass cover you could close the glass and leave the damper open. Then the fireplace can continue to vent to the outside and any backdrafts or cold air after the fire is out would be sealed off from getting back into your house.

Answer 2

Try leaving the flue open until the smallest little ember completey dies...that might mean leaving it open all night if you go to bed before the fire completely goes out.