Expert: James Ball - 12/3/2009

Question
I have a real bad down draft I can't even light wood with out it smoking out the house. If  there is a back draft I will not even try any more.I have tried to get rid of the negative pressure in the house by heating up pipe with propane torch ,turning off the furnace closing of the doors and opening 1 window to create a up draft. The wood stove is downstairs and usually is worse when it is -20 .

Answer
Hello Chad, has it always smoked? is the chimney clear? Is the damper open? has it been cleaned? and checked? are there any trees near the top of the chimney (wind down drafts)
if so then open a few windows, close the doors off to that room and give it a few minutes to settle, do not light the fire try a piece of incense and watch that smoke. when the smoke goes up then light the fire.
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