by blogediter | Feb 13, 2019 | Fireplaces
Q: Jason – Our house gets smoky when our furnace runs while using the fireplace. The chimney inspector told us we needed to extend the fireplace chimney, so he did. We keep a window cracked by the fireplace as he suggested. that didnt fix it, so it still gets smoky in the house when the furnace runs. – LW
A: I would suggest a couple of things try while you are running your fireplace. these things should help you diagnose where the issue is.
1) Burn a fire in the fireplace with the glass doors closed first…if this eliminates the problem then the smoke is comming straight out of the hearth and getting into your cold air return for circulation around the house. Be sure to compare burnin with the doors closed first and then the doors open.
2) Try running your furnace on fan only and see if the problem is still there. If it is not then your furnace is drawing air from the outside that is smokey. If it is still there than it is certain that your cold air return is getting access to the smoke somehow.
3) If this smoke problem is intermittent then try to note which direction the wind is blowing when this happens. Wind can be a factor in the fireplace smoke wisping past the furnace intake. this is particularly an issue if you have a direct vent furnace.
4) Did your chimney inspector do a complete inspection of the interior of your chimney. Possibly a camera inspection should be done. If you have a crack in your chimney liner the smoke may be getting into the home that way. A damaged liner is a very dangerouse situation that will need immediate repair. – Jason
by blogediter | Oct 5, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
2010 Weather Ionization test
Q: I am a renter that recently talked my landlord into allowing me to use the fireplace in my half of the duplex.
I am noticing a large draft created by the fireplace and have read about my gas heat going up the chimney.
I want to install an outside air source for the fireplace but am having trouble finding instructions for doing so. – AY
A: AY, Any adjustments you may do to the fireplace to create heat will cost in excess of $1500 for certain.
That is a mighty generous gift to a landlord. I hate to be the voice of doom on fireplaces but most open fireplace let heat out despite the damper when they are not being used, and they really suck heat out when they are being used or any time the damper is open.
There are some things you can do to improve the efficiency slightly during the burn, but they will not counteract the loss you will experience in furnace heat.
My best advice if you are looking to save heat and money in the winter. Plug up the chimney nice and tight with a Chimney Balloon (don’t rely only on your damper by itself to stop heat loss). to generate cheaper heat, talk with your landlord about how old the furnace is and how efficient it is.
by blogediter | Aug 6, 2018 | Fireplaces, Chimney Problems
Fall and Winter
Q: When I light my wood burning fireplace, my gas furnace pilot light on the other side of the house blows out. How do I stop this? – ST
A: Dear ST, Well without actually seeing this particular situation in action it is hard to tell. Two major questions are: How old is the furnace, is this an open fireplace or enclosed fireplace?
If I had to take an educated guess…I would say that the stack effect in your home is rather strong, and the draft is accelerated through your furnace when you light the fireplace and this is blowing out the furnace pilot light.
When you open your fireplace damper there is heated inside air immediately rising out of the chimney. As you light and stoke a fire the volume of air escaping your house through the chimney is higher and higher. That is why heating with an open fireplace is a losing battle. Since your home has to take in air in other areas to replace the air it is loosing out the flue, your normal drafts in your house (around baseboards, outlets, doors, windows & furnace flues) are under pressure to allow in more and colder outside air. This type of increased draft could be what is blowing out your furnace pilot light.
This has the potential to be a dangerous situation so you will want to have an HVAC tech over to check the furnace draw during the fireplace use. – Jason
