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[email protected] January 13th 07 08:58 AM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of our
basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle


Joseph Meehan January 13th 07 12:37 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
wrote:
We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of
our basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent
this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle


I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have one.

I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible problems
and only an on site inspection by an experienced professional can really
tell what is going on.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Edwin Pawlowski January 13th 07 01:48 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of our
basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent this?


You have a couple of possibilities. When the gas fp is not burning, cooler
air may be rushing down the open flue. With the wood flue nearby, it will
carry down some of the smoke and odor. While a chimney cap is a good idea,
it will diffuse the smoke more than no cap where it would go straight up and
give less carry over.

Both should have caps to prevent birds and squirrels from getting in the
house (happens a lot, DAMHIK) and the gas should have a damper of some sort.



Bill January 13th 07 03:37 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
When you have a wood fireplace or stove, there is a draft of hot air which
goes up the chimney. This creates a "vacuum" inside the house.

There needs to be air coming into the house to supply the draft air for the
fireplace. If all of your windows are closed, the only way for air to enter
your house would be via the chimney in the basement!

So I think the basement chimney is sucking in air and it is also sucking in
smoke from your rooftop area.

The solution would be to crack a window near your fireplace.


wrote in message
We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of our
basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle




[email protected] January 13th 07 05:45 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 

Joseph Meehan wrote:
wrote:
We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of
our basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent
this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle


I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have one.

I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible problems
and only an on site inspection by an experienced professional can really
tell what is going on.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit


I guess my gas fp is odd because it doesn't have a flue I can shut off.
I just may put a bag over the exhaust stack on the roof.

JaKe


Tom The Great January 13th 07 06:28 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
On 12 Jan 2007 23:58:14 -0800, "
wrote:

We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of our
basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle



IMHO:

Fireplaces are like big air pumps. They move alot of air outside and
your house needs to make up for this movement. So it sounds like
'fresh air' is coming down your gas fireplaces flue. Since the cap
slighlty directs the smoke downward, it might be helping smoke reenter
your home.

I would look into getting the fire place a source of air, other than
your homes, install a door on the gas fireplace, and consult a
fireplace/chimney sweep expert for real help.

Just guesses....

tom @ www.FreeWorkAtHomeIdeas.com


Joseph Meehan January 13th 07 06:36 PM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
wrote:
Joseph Meehan wrote:

...

I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have
one.

I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible
problems and only an on site inspection by an experienced
professional can really tell what is going on.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit


I guess my gas fp is odd because it doesn't have a flue I can shut
off. I just may put a bag over the exhaust stack on the roof.

JaKe


I would want one. With out one, it is like leaving one of your windows
partly open all the time. If you live where I do, that is not a good idea.
Hot in the summer and cold in the winter. If you live in Centralia WA, no
big deal.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




German Jerry January 14th 07 05:53 AM

Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement
 
Jake.
Since you are thinking of puting a bag over the chimney top, I am
gathering you are looking for an inexpensive solution for a gas
fireplace you do not use much. Since you do not have a damper at all i
would suggest an inexpensive chimney balloon for $40. You can buy them
online for whatever size flue you have. They blow up to seal off a flue
just like a damper only tighter. This will seal up your open fireplace
flue and you wont have to go on your roof to do it since the Balloon is
installed from the hearth area. This will eliminate the smoke problem
and also keep you from loosing heat out that open flue downstairs.
If you do buy one get a sized clear chimney balloon. The black one-size
fits all ones with the stick dont work well when there is no damper at
all.



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