Expert: James Ball - 11/25/2008

Question
I have a very large but old fireplace in a lobby of a hotel that is recently being renovated.  The fireplace was a former gas unit and removed and replaced with a normal woodburning fireplace.  I have had several issues with the down draft of smoke and belching out the front into the lobby.  I had a new flue and fan system put in place a week ago.  I am still having issues with the smoke belching out the front and filling the lobby with smoke.  Do you have any suggestions that I may try? Thank you so much for your time!!
JJ

Answer
Hello Jenny, air in  a chimney is either pulled or pushed down a chimney pushed is wind, pulled is mechanical (exhaust fans, furnace returns, vacuum of doors opening, cloths dryers, even the furnace turning on) all pull air out of the room and then there is Negative pressure of the building it self (hot air rising in the lobby pulling more air in behind it and smoke. I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have.
they should be able to find the problem.
Keep me posted
James