Expert: James Ball - 12/3/2009

Question
I see cracks in the mortar, How do I fix them? and would this cause smoke to come into my living space? Or what does cause smoke to not rise up into chimney?

Answer
Hello Emily, contact a local mason to "re point" the cracks. What is happening is you are getting Negative Pressure in your home (house stack effect) that is hot air rising in your home (and getting out through the attic vents, doors, lights, another fireplace (is it closed?)) your house is a better chimney than your chimney. Also kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, clothes dryers, Radon systems and the boiler/furnace all take house air out of the house (mechanical negative pressure) your house needs make up air, perhaps an open window in the basement? Or stop the air from getting out the attic and other area’s.
Trail and error until you get this fireplace to work for you, maybe close off the room from the rest of the house to use it (close doors)and open a window/door and see if that helps , light your fire and then when going close window/door.
Or it could be dirty? 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