Your fireplace is an amazing place with great ambiance and coziness, but when smoke backs up into your home, it can be really frustrating to deal with. It can impact human health, especially if you or your loved ones have respiratory issues.
A properly operating chimney system is vital to both your air quality and safety. It can cause a range of issues and can be caused by a range of different issues. In this article, we’ll discuss the potential sources of your New Braunfels home’s smoky chimney and what you need to do to troubleshoot the issues that your chimney system is facing.
Smoky Chimney Troubleshooting: How to Clear Up Your Air
Understanding How a Chimney Works
Your chimney is a complex system, but the way that it works involves understanding how air moves through your system. When your fire burns, it pulls in air from your room or through a separate vent. The air is used in combustion, during which time it’s heated. Because heat rises, the smoke that is generated rises up your chimney to exit your home.
This process is referred to as draft, and it’s why it’s important for your flue, your chimney’s interior, to function properly. If it doesn’t operate properly, it can cause a range of issues, including a smoky chimney.
Common Causes of a Smoky Chimney
Cold or Blocked Chimney Flue
The first source of a smoky chimney is a cold flue, which prevents smoke from rising appropriately, or a blockage, which directly prevents the smoke from leaving your chimney system. If you have a smoky chimney in your New Braunfels home that clears up after the fire has gone for a little while, it’s a cold flue, but continued smoking is caused by a blockage.
Poor Draft and Negative Air Pressure
Modern homes are tightly sealed for energy efficiency. Unfortunately, this can also impact your draft due to limited incoming air or competing vents removing air from the house, leading to a negative air pressure. If cracking a window open slightly improves the situation, adding an incoming vent for your fireplace or woodstove can help solve the problem.
Damper Issues
Your damper is an important part of your home’s energy efficiency. It opens to allow smoke to exit your home when you have a fire, while it keeps your home’s heat from leaving through the chimney when it’s closed. A closed or damaged damper can cause smoke to back up into your home significantly.
Wet or Green Firewood
When your firewood is damp or isn’t properly seasoned, it creates a lot of extra smoke. This is because the moisture in the wood has to boil off before it can burn. This process means that the smoke is much cooler, so it doesn’t rise up your chimney as quickly and can linger in your home. Your firewood should dry for at least six months and be stored under cover to keep it dry.
Improper Fireplace or Stove Design
Your fireplace and chimney system may not look complicated, but it’s actually a complex system that requires careful knowledge to handle. Short chimneys can have issues with draft, a firebox that is too small for the fire can generate excess smoke, and recent construction in your area can also impact your draft.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
- Checking for blockages and clearing debris
- Preheating the flue to improve draft
- Opening a nearby window to balance air pressure
- Ensuring the damper is fully open
- Using the right type of firewood
- Considering chimney height adjustments
When to Call a Professional
In many of these cases, having a professional check out your system can be a great way to ensure that it will operate properly. Whatever the issue is that is impacting your chimney system, a chimney professional will understand what the problem is and how to fix it. In many cases, the solution can be simple and inexpensive, as easy as having your chimney swept or minor repairs completed.
If you’re facing significant issues with a smoky chimney in New Braunfels, or need troubleshooting, maintenance or repair help, the experienced chimney professionals at Wolfman Chimney & Fireplace have got you covered. With certified, experienced technicians who have a solid grasp of your entire chimney and fireplace system, we can help you find the perfect solution for your needs. Why not reach out today to schedule a consultation, either by chatting with our friendly team by phone or through our online form?
Reach us online, send us a text, or call us at 830-620-4335 today!