Expert: James Ball - 1/27/2010

Question
I have an exterior double flu brick chimney in NH.  In the living room is a regular fireplace w/ damper and glass doors.  In the basement is a woodstove on a brick hearth with brick backing and four small air vents notched into the brick backing against the wall.  Cold air typically comes down into the basement through these vent holes.  Not sure their purpose. We have seen smoke coming into the LR when only using the woodstove, but the predominant problem is when we light a fire in the upstairs fireplace, the basement fills with smoke. Even when we first arrive for a weekend, the basement smells like damp ash.

how do we prevent the downdraft?  is there any way to solve the perpetual damp odor?

thank you.

Answer
Hello Janet, you have a negative pressure issue, the unit you are using is pulling air down the other to feed it and the house is venting air out doing the same thing. not sure what the vents are but they are pulling  make up air too. 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