Lighting a fire for warmth and light during the cold dark days of winter can create the perfect ambiance, but when smoke from your fireplace comes into your home – instead of going up and out of your chimney like it’s supposed to – it can be a huge annoyance. The smell lingers, it’s hard to breathe, and you begin to wonder why you ever started a fire in the first place.
So the question is, how do you fix it?
Fortunately for folks in and near Grand Junction, The Chimney Doctor can help you get rid of the smoke and back to enjoying your fireplace. Here are some things to check on that can help you get the smoke out and the joy back in.
Smoke Troubleshooting Checklist
Smoke in your home? We’ve got some troubleshooting tips.
✓ Check Your Chimney Flue
If Smoke is entering your home, it’s possible it simply has no other place to go. In other words, something may be blocking its exit through the chimney flue. Chimneys are susceptible to catching falling and blowing debris and all of this can build up inside the flue and clog it up, leaving no place for your fire’s smoke to go but right back inside.
In addition to debris, animals such as raccoons, birds, and squirrels can decide to take up residence in the chimney and block things up. Chimneys provide shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and plenty of warmth, making them an appealing location for critters of all kinds. Unfortunately, nesting materials, as well as the critters themselves, can easily stop smoke from escaping – as well as put them at risk.
These problems can easily be solved with a quick cleaning from one of our expert sweeps at The Chimney Doctor. Our experience, paired with our friendly service, makes working with us the right decision every single time.
✓ Check Your Chimney Damper
Chimney dampers are a wise investment for the homeowner looking to keep the warmth of their house inside when the fireplace isn’t in use. However, if it is shut while there is a fire in the fireplace, then the smoke will be forced inside.
Whether you have a traditional throat damper or a top-mounted damper, make sure your damper is open wide and letting smoke out.
And if your damper is stuck shut or in need of repairs? We’re here to help with that. Call us out for repairs and maintenance, so you can get back to using your fireplace with ease.
✓ Check Your Air Supply
Homes these days are being insulated so efficiently that chimneys can’t pull enough air out of the home and create the draft needed for smoke to escape. Basically, more is going out than is coming back in, and shifts the balance of airflow. And the pressure built up in the chimney will force smoke into the house as it looks for a place to escape.
Opening a window or a door slightly should allow enough air into the home for the chimney to pull the smoke up and out of the chimney. If you don’t like the idea of opening a window every time you light a fire, though, you can get vents installed into your firebox that will allow air in and smoke up and out.
Ask us about your makeup air solutions today.
✓ Check Your Fireplace Opening
If the opening in your fireplace is too big, it’s possible that there’s too much air being let into the fireplace, thus causing airflow to flow in the wrong direction. The Chimney Doctor can recommend various solutions to shrink your fireplace opening, without affecting the aesthetics of it.
You can also install glass doors on your fireplace to help regulate the amount of air being let into the fireplace.
✓ Check Your Chimney Cap
It is possible that wind and pressure outside of your house is forcing air down and in, rather than allowing smoke up and out. A properly-installed chimney cap will help to prevent this from being a problem by deflecting wind that creates pressure and forces air down your chimney. The Chimney Doctor is fully equipped with the perfect chimney cap for your needs – ask us about your options.
✓ Check Your Chimney Design
Unfortunately, not all chimneys are created equal and sometimes flaws in the masonry, the height of your chimney, or its general overall design can prevent proper air flow and force smoke into your home. It is imperative your chimney is designed, built, and installed by professionals who specialize in fireplaces and chimneys.
Call us in for an inspection, so that we can look things over and see if any changes need to be made. We’ll get you where you need to be, offering professional guidance every step of the way.
We Can Solve Your Smoky Fireplace Problems
The Chimney Doctor is Grand Junction’s leader in cleaning, repair, and installation. All of our employees have received top-notch training, and our years of experience have allowed us to see the many problems that can cause smoke to enter a home – as well as how to solve them.
Don’t deal with a smoky fireplace any longer. Call The Chimney Doctor today, and let us help you create the home you desire.
Reach out at 970-234-3330 or book with us online now.
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