Expert: James Ball - 11/23/2006

Question
I have upstairs and downstairs fireplaces on the same chimney.  If I light one I get smoke coming out the other.  The only solution I have found is to preheat both chimneys by lighting a bunch of crumpled newspaper in both fireplaces at exactly the same time (this requires 2 people) and then have fires in both.  How can I have a fire in one without having to light the other?

Answer
Hello Earl, this is not uncommon to have one or the other smoke but to get both to draft is rare. Here is what happens when you try to get a fire place to draft it needs make up air from the house to also go up the chimney and it will pull that air down other chimneys, under doors, through the attic and so on kind a like trying to suck air out of a bottle when you have a second opening the first will draft. If you have a cap on top that makes it easier to bring smoke down the second chimney.
My advice would be to contact a Chimney Safety Institute of America chimney sweep http://www.csia.org/ and go to the “home owners section” there you will be able to find a local Certified Chimney Sweep in your area, they will be able to come out and look at the whole chimney system. I do not know what each chimney sweep would charge but you can ask them what an inspection costs. They will be able to tell you if the chimney is lined, dirty, working properly, and if it is safe and if not how to fix the smoking.
Hope this helped
James Ball