Expert: James Ball - 9/29/2010

Question
I recently purchased a house and in the living room is a fireplace. I would like to use the fireplace with the winter months coming up.

I recently had a chimney cleaner come out but they said I would be unable to use the fireplace due to their being 2 separate flues in the chimney stack. Stating that there would be a swirling effect from there being 2 separate 8X8 or 8X12 clay pot flues.

They made an estimate in the thousands to take out the flues and put in new liner; this was not what I was expecting.

What options do I have?
Thanks in advance!

Answer
Hello John, if the 2 flues are for just one fireplace then maybe, I have seen this  a few times and have seen them work so give it a try you can always reline if it dose not work (have it checked by a CSIA.org sweep every year)
if it smokes 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.
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 just open a window/door in that room until it gets going and then close them.