Fireplace smoke from 'Green' Wood?

Question

We have a fireplace insert with those small firebricks. It's pretty small and burns wood. The front is covered in a chainmail screen. When the dampener is open and I stick my head in there and look up, it seems like the whole unit is tapered into a 8" pipe that goes out the top two floors above and a little more above the roof line. However the dampener when it is open doesn't go completely against the side as it is designed which seems like the smoke from half of the fire goes up there, and kinda has to wisk a bit down again to catch into the main stream to exit the house.

We recently picked up a load of cherry that may or may not be well seasoned. It sizzles which to me says it is probably a bit green still. Our last load didn't smoke that much into the house, but this load, I am having serious issues with smoke coming into the house at the top of the fireplace like there is just too much smoke to exit.
Is there anything I can do? It's pretty clean so that's not the issue.

Answer 1

let your wood season more. Replace with dry well seasoned wood before you have a chimney fire. You CAN get a fire going with seasoned wood and sneak green in once you get it real hot

Answer 2

When you start your fire,oper a window a few inches until the chimney is warm and a draft is enstablished and the smoke of the fire goes straight up,then you can close the window.
Green wood will spatter and smoke a lot but a clear and warm chimney will draw the smoke up.

Answer 3

Sounds like your flu pipe may be too small and can't draw the smoke out fast enough. Sometimes a cold flu can be a problem when it's cold and needs to be heated up to draw out the smoke.