Expert: James Ball - 10/22/2009

Question
We have a 1 1/2 story house with an exterior wall fireplace and a basement fireplace underneath as well. We have a smokey smell in the family room that I now understand is from the stack effect? My question is, How do you remedy it? We have glass doors on the fireplace already, but it stills smells like I live in an ashtray. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer
Hello Carrie, yes "stack Effect", you might want to install top mount dampers to the top of each flue (cable runs down inside of chimney to open and close)that way when not in use the air wont be pulled down either flue and wont come down the other when using one. 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 help.
Hope this helps
James