I have a fireplace in my townhome and asked reception wether it was usable and if so was it blocked off and was told that it is ready to use. So I got so logs and made a log fire for my family. After about a miniute the smoke starting coming out of the fireplace and filled the house. I am pretty pissed about it cause one of my sons is disabled and already has breathing treatments. I live in an apartment complex in san antonio texas. can anyone tell me if i can do anything
2007-12-02 08:31:27 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I ask if there is anything i need to do. I am from the uk and not familiar with a damper what is it
2007-12-02 08:41:50 · update #1
that what im saying did tell them that i had not used one and there answer was use it as is. you can ask a question on something you've never heard of
2007-12-02 09:09:26 · update #2
I'd wager a steak dinner at your choice of high-end restaurants (how about The Old San Francisco Steak House, I haven't eaten there in a while) that you failed to open the damper first. Some fireplaces have an external lever or knob to regulate the damper and others you have to reach up inside to open it.
If they told you it was ready to use, you can take it to the bank that it was. YOU messed up by not opening the damper. Use a flashlight and look up inside the hearth and you'll see the lever if it doesn't have an external one.
Addendum: I lived in the UK for 7 years, in a number of homes from 450 year old listed period properties to modern detached homes. Nearly all of them had fireplaces -- everthing from huge Inglenooks to small coal fires -- and every fireplace had a damper. Look up inside the firebox and you'll see exactly what a damper is. If it's closed you won't be able to see up the chimney. There will be a handle or some system of levers or gears to regulate its postion. Keep it closed when the fireplace is not in use to keep cold air from coming down the chimney. Open it when you build a fire. You've already learned what will happen if you build a fire without opening it.
2007-12-02 08:42:03 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Ummm....when you want to use a wood burning fireplace, you ARE expected to have rudimentary knowledge of how a fireplace works. Did you also expect to be told that you had to build the fire INSIDE the firebox instead of on the hearth ? Of course, you didn't open the damper. By the way, fireplaces in the UK work the same way.
Puhleeze......
2007-12-02 09:26:18 · answer #2 · answered by acermill 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Um, yeah. It's both customary and necessary to open the flue before starting a fire. You should NOT mess with fire if you don't know what you are doing. Never mess with electricity, plumbing, or gas either since you don't know what you are doing. You nearly burnt down your landlord's apartment complex! You could have killed people!
If you choose to move out, make sure you have the walls, draperies, and carpet cleaned of any smoke damage. You should call one of those fire/flood restoration companies. You will be held liable for all of the smoke damage if it is detectable.
2007-12-02 08:54:40 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
lets just let everyone do the thinking for us.. shall we? they are not responsible for you not opening the damper. you can be angry all you want but the bottom line is they do not have to compensate you in any way.
save yourself some grief and let it go.
2007-12-02 11:43:32 · answer #4 · answered by This is harder than it looks? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well did you open the damper first? It's probably your fault. "Ready to use" does not mean you don 't need to do anything.
2007-12-02 08:37:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋