Expert: James Ball - 1/6/2010

Question
I have the typical wood insert in a fireplace. Has two glass doors, and works find as long as there is a hot flaming fire inside. Soon as it dies down, open the door just a crack, or enough to try and place more wood in and smoke just pours out into the house. My wife has COPD and can't stand the smoke. Any suggestions on how to fix this?  We really need the heat as our other heat is lp gas and it's to expensive.  Thanks for any help with this.

Answer
Hello Eddie, 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. Or open a window before you open the door to add wood.
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)
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 they should be able to help.
Hope this helps
James