It can be a bit of a challenge to make some chimney's work: especially when it gets cold. Cold air is very "heavy". The column of air inside a chimney can be like a huge "cold-plug". It really does require a diligent effort to move this "cold plug" out of the chimney. It takes more time than some people imagine just to get a chimney to start "drawing." They need to understand that a warm air "siphon" must be created. This may require five or ten minutes of careful effort. The best way to make your chimney work, is to take the time to establish a good draw.
 

The first best trick to enable a chimney to draw is to: crack a window. Remember, the properly drafting chimney is very much like a siphon. If the chimney has no available air source: it can not draft. It can even matter which window in the room is "cracked open." Simply put, the wind must be blowing AT the window. The object is to bring pressure into the room.
 

The next best trick to enable a chimney to draw is to: pre-heat the flue. This is the critical step. You must take arms against the atmospheric-cold-blanket of heavy arctic air. Mother nature is bearing down with a vengeance on your chimney; you must take the time to create a miniature artificial environment: inside your own chimney. You must break through the cold plug of air clogging up your chimney, and then keep pushing until a warm air siphon is created, then your fireplace can burn majestically in the freezing cold winter!
 

• 1) Make sure the spark screen on your chimney cap is not clogged or obstructed.
• 2) Look up the chimney with a strong flashlight and check clearances*. (See NOTE below!)
• 3) Make sure the damper is propped to stay wide open.
• 4) Crack open a nearby window an inch or so.
• 5) Prepare to start a SMALL fire by crumpling newspaper under a kindling "log cabin."
• 6) Roll up 5 or 6 newspaper "torches" to pre-heat the chimney's flue.
• 7) Light the newspaper torches one at time: hold them one after the other UP the chimney*. (See NOTE below!)
• 8) Spend 4-5 minutes pre-heating the flue with these "torches." Establish a "siphon."
• 9) Carefully light the kindling, and build up the fire slowly.
• 10) After the fire is going, and the siphon action is well established, close the window.

* NOTE: Chimney absolutely must be free of flammable creosote deposits!

If the chimney is "dirty", holding flaming torches up the flue can ignite the creosote and cause a volcanic chimney fire! Chimney fire's are extremely dangerous because they "rage" at 2100 degrees Fahrenheit with volcanic fury! Under normal circumstances, creosote deposits are very visible to the naked eye:Call a Chimney Sweep if you are unsure if the Chimney is clean.
 

There are a number of problems a chimney may have, which actually make establishing a good draw difficult. But, 9 out of 10 people who think they have "smoke problems" really don't. Most people just don't realize that they need to take more time to get their fireplace working in the first place. But, there are a number of possible problems that need to be considered.
 

• Smoke-Guard

Sometimes, the opening of the fireplace is a little too big for the size of the flue in the chimney. In cases like this, smoke perpetually spills out into the room. There is a way to test to see if your chimney has this problem. Tape up a 4 inch strip of aluminum foil across the top of the opening of your fireplace. The object is to cut down the size of the opening of the fireplace, so that the flue doesn't have to exhaust so much incoming air. Use your fireplace several times with this temporary "smoke guard." If the 4 inch aluminum foil strip eliminates your problem, install a real Smoke-Guard. Average cost to install a Smoke-Guard is about $325.00.
 

• Chimney Extension

If a chimney is too short, the siphon (draw) which must be created, is easily broken by wind changes, or other factors. A chimney needs to be a least 10 ft high. The best chimney's are between 12 and 16 feet high. If your chimney is less than 10 feet high, and a carefully established draw cannot be maintained for an extended period, you may need to extend your chimney. Special caps are used to extend a chimney, contact us for a quote.
 

• Termination Clearances

"Every chimney shall extend above the roof, and the highest elevation of any part of the building." Trees, or higher buildings very near a chimney can also affect a good draw. The top of the chimney is supposed to be the highest spot of your house, within a fifteen foot radius. To effect this, sometimes nearby foliage needs to be removed, or the chimney may even need to be extended. Remember, however, that even most of these types of smoking problems can be "fixed" simply by taking more time to establish a good draw. If you continue to have problems despite these tips, we carry special downdraft caps and Power Ventilators to cure even the toughest smoke problems
 

• When all else fails: Call an Expert

If you need further advise about fixing a smoking chimney, call an expert. Fireguard Chimney Sweeps, LLC. has over 30 years experience in Lower Fairfield County, diagnosing, and fixing smoke problems. I am happy to help you with any chimney related problem in my service area.