Fred wrote:
When I use the fireplace in my home my basement fills with fumes. It's not
so bad that I can see smoke but the smokey smell is strong
enough that spending time in the (finished) basement is not
enjoyable. My house was renovated at some point before I owned it
and a closet was built in the basement that houses the furnace and
water heater. This closet is directly below the fireplace. There is
a access panel behind the furnace to access a ash box below the
fireplace. In the fireplace is a hinged door in the floor of the
firebox for ashes.
I have tried to seal the panel behind the furnace with duck tape but
the odor didn't change.

Any ideas? Is the furnace drawing the fumes down somehow?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

To add to what Edwin wrote, I suggest that you may want to provide fresh
outside air to the utility room with the furnace. It sounds like it does
not have enough air now and even without the fireplace it could cause
problems, maybe serious CO problems.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit