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Question
My home is a three story colonial w/chimney on outside wall. The main fireplace is on the second floor ground level and there is a Jotul stove installed in basement on separate flu, same chimney. Every time I light a fire in the upstairs fireplace, there is an initial layer of white smoke near basement ceiling. Once cleared away by opening slider and using electric fan and the chimney is warmed up, smoke is no more. Any suggestions as to how to prevent this from happening every time we light a fire? Our chimney sweep suggested lighting the wood stove first, but sometimes I just want a fire in the main fireplace. Thanks, Lisa
Lisa,
This could be the result of many possibilities. Not knowing the age of your home, the condition of the chimney, is there effective liners in both flues etc. I unfortunately cant say for certain. You may have a negative pressure in the basement, you could be getting a cross over draft, there could be a stacking effect, breach in the liners or any number of other issues. That being said, I would recommend you have an NFPA-211 level II inspection performed on your system. feel free to use the links at the bottom of my home page at www.brooks-hearth.com to find a company that performs these inspections. Best of luck to you and your family.
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Answers by Expert:
Randy Brooks
Expertise
Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.
Experience
Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989
Ojai, CA
Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com
Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011.
CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011.
HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002.
NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.
Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710.
http://www2.cslb.ca.gov
C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11.
http://www.csia.org
F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06.
http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com
Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05
N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08.
http://nficertified.org
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