Expert: James Ball - 1/21/2009

Question
I  have had open fires all my life.  I had a Victorian fire installed and at first it did not smoke, I have my chimneys swept twice a year.This fire after being lit is coming straight down the chimney and into the room as soon as anything is put on it.  I  have explored the fact that it could be a dirty chimney, a birds nest, not enough airflow, none of these is it.  I was reading about the "throat" if they chimney and that it has to be installed properly. Is there anything else?

Answer
Hello Maggie, I am not sure what a "Victorian fire" is, but it sounds like a fireplace. Almost all fireplaces work fine it is the house that can be a problem to include negative pressure, natural (house stack effect, hot air rising and getting out through the roof or other areas) Mechanical (kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, cloths dryers, boiler/furnace) all pull air out of the house. Try this if the chimney is clean open a door and window in this room with the fireplace in it and see if the fireplace draws, if it does then you need make up air. Or stop the air from going out of the house (mechanical and natural)
James