Expert: James Ball - 6/20/2011

Question
Like others I have an issue with two fireplaces, one in the living room one in the basement. we get smoke in the one that is not used due to "negitive" pressure. I have been debating on putting  wood burning stove inserts in.  Do you think this will cure the smoke coming in the fireplace that is not being used?

Answer
Hello Mike, your house needs air, if the fireplace/wood stove you are using is venting 10 gallons of air per minute up the chimney then it needs 1 gallons of air per minute from the house and it will come from the path of least resistance, usually an other fireplace , they make a "top mount damper cap" that will close off the other fireplace when not in use and solve the smoking problem, but 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