Fireplace - any tips on reducing smoke coming in instead of going out?

Question

im renting a house with a fireplace, ive used it once but had alot of smoke coming in, was the fire not hot enough to assist in the smoke rising? is some smoke coming in normal? any tips or tricks ?

oh before someone asks, yes the damper in the chimney was open when I used it.

Answer 1

I have the same problem.
First I don't have a fire unless it's 45 degrees or below. The fireplace draws a lot better when it's cold.
Second, use well seasoned wood. It burns a lot cleaner. If your wood is not seasoned start the fire with a synthetic log and add your wood on top after it gets going.
Third, take a newspaper, twist it tight, light the end and hold it up the chimney to start the draw.
Keep in mind that open fireplaces are energy inefficient. That's why a previous answerer suggested opening a nearby window. That way the fire will use outside air rather than conditioned air from the rest of the house.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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RE:
Fireplace - any tips on reducing smoke coming in instead of going out?
im renting a house with a fireplace, ive used it once but had alot of smoke coming in, was the fire not hot enough to assist in the smoke rising? is some smoke coming in normal? any tips or tricks ?

Answer 4

Look on the outside of the home, and up at the chimney is there a cap, and or spark arresting screen on it, normally the screens plug an reduced the draft flow, and if you have large trees around your home and near the chimney area they will have to be trimmed back, the height of the trees creates a swirling effect when the wind passes over them creating a dangerous down draft situation on the chimney, you will know it when it happens, you will actually get large huffs of smoke into the home, windows are great for fresh air exchange, but your fireplace was designed to function without the need to create artificial drafts, have it checked, some of the local fire departments will check them for you for free, we used to, it was time well spent on prevention, and one less call at 2:00 am in the morning for a chimney fire.

Answer 5

I used to live on a farm in Tuscany Italy, we had huge problems with smoke bouncing back in to the kitchen, so we called the local builder who arrived later that week and climbed on the roof, he extended the chimney by about a meter and a half in height, which gave it more draw and the problem was solved. When there was severe winds we would get some smoke pushed back down but nothing like it had been before. So in the case of chimney's size really does seem to matter.

If that's something which you would prefer not to do, find a sweep as there could be a nest in there someplace.

Answer 6

What I do b4 I light a fire is I light a piece of paper and blow it out then hold the paper up the flu to start the smoke going up the chimney

Answer 7

Suggest to take a close inspection of the chimney to insure nothing is blocking it. A friend of mine had the same problem and found the chimney blocked off with a piece of insulation.

Answer 8

look up the chimney, is it open?
if so when you light a fire next time, light a news paper and hold it close to the damper to get the air flow started.
also open a window about 1/2 inch to pull in fresh air,

Answer 9

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Answer 10

was the flu open? if so open a window on the opposite side of the room just a little bit. it will help get a draft going.