Expert: James Ball - 11/15/2008

Question
in my condo, I have a full chimney brick fireplace about 30 years old.  everytime I have a fire I have an overwhelming stench of smoke for several days.  It is driving me mad!!! I have had the fireplace cleaned, I installed a chimney cap, I regularly clean the firebox of ALL ashes and burnt wood, i have done the incense check but find no back pressure, I have lit candles, the flu damper is in great shape and closes tightly!!! I am going crazy and readily to seal the whole thing up..please help!

Answer
hello Alan, there are other things that can bring smoke and odor down a chimney like the furnace return, kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, cloths dryers, and the negative pressure of the house. and then there is the wind. try to find which one you have with the incense and then correct that one. they do make a top sealing damper that might help. 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.
James