Chimney Smoke Leaking Into House

Clogged Chimney Cap, Screen or Liner

• One of the first places to look if your chimney is backing up smoke is the cap, screen or liner that is located on top of the chimney where it stubs out from the roof. A cap typically keeps debris from blowing in, but there are also sometimes screens or liners also built in. If these are blocked by flying debris, such as branches or leaves, the smoke from your fireplace has nowhere to go. Keep the cap free of debris so the smoke flows freely.

Blocked Chimney

• If a chimney doesn’t have a cap on it, or the liner or screen has blown off or is otherwise nonexistent, chances are you have something stuck down in the pipe. Smoke backing up can also occur because a chimney is not regularly cleaned. A thick layer of creosote and soot may be keep the smoke from rising. Regular cleaning at least once a year with a chimney brush and soot-removing chemicals rated for your type of chimney is recommended to keep the soot levels down. Creosote removal also eliminates the chance of a chimney fire.

Downdraft

• Sometimes chimneys suffer from a downdraft, also known as a cold draft. This is when the fireplace hasn’t been used for a while and the cold air from outside the home is blowing down into the chimney and keeping hot air from rising. This condition is usually temporary and clears itself up once a fire is started and the initial heat blast forces the cold air out. One trick for forcing a chimney to clear the cold air out is to set fire to a band of rolled-up newspapers and hold it up in the chimney for a few moments while it burns, then light your fire. The initial burst of flame will shoot up the chimney and clear out any cold air, making room for the smoke from your wood fire.

Considerations

• Check the damper to ensure it is free of debris and soot, and that it is open sufficiently when starting your fire so it allows the smoke to rise through the chimney. Placement of the fire grate is also important so that your stove is getting enough air from outside of the stove to burn clean and not smolder. Keep it centered and toward the back. Use dry logs, as wet logs smoke more than dry wood. Keep windows shut during the stove's operation to prevent drafts that pull air out of the stove rather than let it pass up the chimney.