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Chimney & Fireplaces/Smoke in house when I use fireplace

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Expert: - 3/20/2009


Question
We have a 1939 2 story house w/ basement and a wood burning fireplace.  My furnace (high efficiency natural gas) is vented through the same chimney as the fireplace, but using a separate flue.  When I light a fire, you can smell wood smoke in the basement and then gets throughout the house when the furnace runs.  I speculate that the furnace pvc vent pipe is drawing in the smoke when I light a fire.  The pvc furnace vent pipe and fireplace chimney are about same height on my roof and probably 1-2 feet apart.  I have tried opening windows next to the fire to provide more make-up air, but that hasn't solved the problem.  Do you think the smoke is coming down my furnace vent?  Any ideas / solutions?  thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Ryan,

It's very possible that this smoke/smoke odor is being drawn into this area because of a pressure problem in the home causing crossover spillage into the basement flue.

There are a multitude of remedies that are too extensive to discuss in this type of forum.

I recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep who is familiar with whole-house pressure testing to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem and to provide you with some solutions.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice 316-265-9828
Fax 316-265-9890
www.HomeSafeKS.com

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep #2653
CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician #10
NFI Certified Wood Specialist
NFI Certified Gas Specialist
NFI Certified Pellet Specialist
NFI Master Hearth Professional
NCSG Technical Advisory Council Member

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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