"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
news:Vy_xd.5870$152.2378@trndny01...

wrote in message
ups.com...
The other week I had a fire going in my family room fireplace. Shortly
after starting the fire, I noticed the smoke was backing up in the
chimney - and the whole downstairs was quickly flooded with smoke.
This is the second time in a year this has happened. After the 1st
time, we suspected it might be a negative pressure situation, so I have
been sure to crack a nearby window every time I start a fire ... guess
that doesn't help.

It can happen for a couple of reason. One is the temperature
differential. If the fire is just starting, the damper is open, the cold
air in the chimney wants to come down as it is heavier than the air below
it. Once the fire gets going and produces a lot of heat, the air flow can
be reversed. If you feel a cold down draft, try lighting some loosely
crumpled newspaper paper just to get a hot air flow going up. The paper
gives a lot of heat quickly.

And hold the burning paper as close as possible to the TOP of the firebox
until it starts to draw up.