Expert: James Ball - 3/29/2011

Question
QUESTION: I have a manufacture home with a Coleman wood burning fire place and a coleman AC/Heathing system. if I have a fire going and the Heathing unit turns on it pulles air back down the chimney bring in smoke into the house, I do open a window and that stops the smoke but it pulles all that cold air into the house. My question is does colmen have a system that draws out side air by the fire box instead of using the window? if so how is that done?

ANSWER: Hello Steve, have you gotten in contact with Coleman? as I am not familiar with those systems. in any case lets look at it this way if you have a fire and that fire needs 10 gallons of air per minute from the house and works fine and the boiler kicks on and needs another 10 gallons of air per minute for the boiler then the fireplace will lose, so if you gave the boiler it's own air it might not have an issue with the fireplace, contact your heating company and tell them you might need a "fan in a can" or "combustion air"  (industry generic term) for a fresh air intake for the boiler, the fan kicks on then boiler kicks on, when the boiler kicks off then the fan kicks or, when the fan is on it is bringing fresh air into the boiler room for combustion and will not take the "10 gallons of air" from the fireplace.
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks James, I left a very important piece of information out the heating system is electric. I will check with Coleman do you recommend a web site? again Thank you for your time.

Answer
Welcome back Steve, you have Negative Pressure that is hot air rising in the home and it is getting out, check attic doors, be sure to turn off exhaust fans to find a fresh air intake for the fireplace you might have to rip out a wall and it might not help that much. the air is getting out of your home (your home is a better chimney than your chimney, have a Certified sweep take a look
James