How to cure a fireplace downdraft putting smoke into the room?

Question

Our coal effect gas fire will, from time to time, blow smoke and fumes into the room. We have a cowl on the chimney and it hasn't stopped the problem.

Answer 1

Is the chimney tall enough? It needs to extend above any nearby obstacle so that the wind draws smoke and fumes up out of it, rather than blowing down into it. Contact a heating contractor or chimney sweep in your area.

Answer 2

Yes, glass doors would help. You can open them all the way, half the way, or none at all. It would stop any smoke from entering the room. I had a fireplace growing up. At one time, it had doors. Then, we put a fireplace insert (buckstove) there. It had a blower motor and really heated the house. The glass front on our fireplace was a pair of bifold doors. I think the guy who said it was too shallow may be right. I saw a show on tv about the guy who first built the perfect fireplace. He was some Englishman hundreds of years ago. The same design has been used by most houses ever since. Almost all fireplaces are the same so maybe this fireplace is just for fake fires or something.

Answer 3

Hello,

(ANS) We have a house in North Wales which was built in 1700's and it has a large harth with an open fire (we use wooden logs & coal). We also used to suffer from blow back & a room filled with fumes & smoke. Here are some suggestions:-

No.1 The cowle is the wrong type of cowle?

No.2 The cowle is pointing or aligned in the wrong direction for the wind which causes the problem of blow back.

No.3 The cowle hasnt been sealed against the roof correctly and air or a draught is getting in through a gap? (possible but not very likley).

No.4 Blow back on an open fire of any kind is caused by NOT enough up draught. An open fire requires a good up draught up the chimney to light the fire, keep the fire burning & stop the room filling with fumes & smoke.

I strongly suggest that when the fire is lit & when you get blow back occurring (to stop it or prevent it), that you open the door into the room with the fire. Open it about 1inch and this should prevent the blow back (its abit trial & error so it could be more or less than 1 inch, you will have to try yourself to find the right amount) But this should work.

Best Regards & Happy smokeless 2007!!

IR

Answer 4

Burn the fireplace with an exterior door open. If this corrects the problem then the house pulls into a negative pressure when the house is shut tight. Crack a few windows slightly to keep pressure equal with outside. Also, sometimes each time an exterior door is opened this will momentarily cause a backdraft. This too would be because of a 'tight' home.

Answer 5

This can be dangerous if your chimney is blocked. smoking can sometimes be caused by lack of cold air outside and a strong wind. Not much you can do about that! The colder the weather the better the smoke updraught. Could be worth getting the sweep in, just to make sure all is OK.

Answer 6

The key problem that i would be concerned about is that you say a gas fireplace is blowing smoke into your house---this should NEVER happen with a gas appliance. DO NOT USE THIS UNIT until you call your local fireplace co. and get a certified fireplace tech to inspect your fireplace. he can locate the problem and also help you solve the downdraft problem. A gas appliance that produces smoke is not burning properly and is producing carbon monoxide--THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

Answer 7

Fire may need servicing. A smoke test will show if chimney is OK. Best to get it checked properly by a CORGI registered company.

Answer 8

Most probably the chimney wants sweeping.

Answer 9

you could fit a COLT COWEL to the chimney. They guarantee to stop blow back or your money back. Also you should have ventilation to give a circulation of air.

Answer 10

I think you need a Chimney Sweep to fix it.