| A cold winter day and it would be great to | | | | adding fireplace bricks to raise the grill to |
| have a nice fire in the fireplace, but the | | | | stop smoke by creating more draft. |
| last time you used it you had too much smoke. | | | | |
| You can fix your smoky fireplace with a few | | | | Narrow the fireplace opening. Large |
| steps with these tips. | | | | fireplaces may have chimneys that are too |
| | | | small for them so not enough draft is created |
| In addition to being an annoying nuisance, a | | | | to such all of the air out. You can scale |
| smoky fireplace can ruin your carpets, drapes | | | | down the opening by installing reducers, |
| and discolor the paint on your walls. Most | | | | available at a fireplace store. |
| importantly, it is very unhealthy to breathe | | | | |
| in this smoke, especially for children, the | | | | Lower your furnace. You may be cutting down |
| elderly or anyone with allergies. | | | | on the air in the house and the air in the |
| | | | chimney comes out smoky. Lower your heat to a |
| The first step is to be sure your damper is | | | | level that keeps the rest of the house just |
| open. There is a switch in front of the | | | | comfortable, or turn it off completely. |
| fireplace that you have to pull back on. Next | | | | |
| step, get the chimney warm by burning an easy | | | | Make sure the pipes are clear and clean. |
| to burn material such as paper. You are | | | | Leaves, debris, birds nests and other items |
| trying to get the cold air out of the | | | | may be stopping up the free circulation and |
| chimney, since the cold air will push the | | | | pushing the smoke back into the house. |
| warm air down and push smoke into the room. | | | | |
| | | | Have the fireplace professionally cleaned. If |
| Next step, choose the right wood. Use | | | | none of these solutions work, you may have a |
| seasoned wood, not green lumber which has too | | | | coating of creosote that has formed on the |
| much moisture and will smoke. Larger logs | | | | inside of the chimney. This is a by product |
| take a long time to get hot enough to burn | | | | of burning wood, but the only way to get rid |
| off any residue, so use smaller logs. | | | | of it is professional cleaning. This is a |
| | | | wise decision for both the health and safety |
| Open your windows. If there is not enough | | | | of you and your family. |
| draft in a room a fire will not ignite, only | | | | |
| smoke. Older homes usually have plenty of | | | | You want to enjoy your fireplace, not let it |
| draft, but a newer, well insulated home may | | | | be a cause for worry. But you have to give it |
| not have enough air circulating to let the | | | | the proper care in order for it to function |
| fire catch. | | | | well. Do your maintenance and get a cleaning |
| | | | every fall, and then when the cold winter |
| Put some bricks under your fireplace grill in | | | | days roll in, you can sit back and enjoy a |
| order to create more air circulation. By | | | | smoke free fireplace. |