Expert: James Ball - 10/27/2008

Question
We have a double fireplace with wood stove downstairs and regular fireplace upstairs. We put log in wood stove downstairs and then had smoke everywhere. Flume downstairs was open--upstairs was closed--This is our first double stove--Already had chimney sweep out last month and he said everything was good to go--What are we doing wrong?  Thanks!

Answer
Hello Colette, this is a common problem called "negative pressure" that means the air going up the chimney down stairs is coming right back down the chimney up stairs to feed down stair. they make a "top mount damper" that will close off the top of the up stairs chimney.
your house needs make up air. if you left a widow open that would solve the problem but who wants to leave a window open all winter. the top mount damper has a cable that runs down the inside of the chimney to open and close it (if you ever want to use the up stairs fireplace.)a Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org) can install them.
James