When I light up the fireplace, the room is filling up with smoke.
I've checked the flue and it's definitely opened as far as it can go.
What I'm wondering is, is it possible that the chimney, or the pipe
leading up to the roof, is partially clogged? I've heard others
mention too that it could be due to the air flow outside, causing the
smoke to drift inside the house.

Also, the fireplace has what appear to be transparent doors on it (I'm
guessing they're glass, but not sure). Is it safe to close these
doors while the fireplace is lit? I just didn't want pressure to
build up or something weird to happen.

If the chimney/flue/pipe (whatever it's technical name is) is clogged,
what are the solutions? I've heard something about special logs you
can get for the fireplace that help clean out the pipe, do these help?
What do I need to repair this?

Thanks,
Dustin

In article , -o-m wrote:

When I light up the fireplace, the room is filling up with smoke.
I've checked the flue and it's definitely opened as far as it can go.
What I'm wondering is, is it possible that the chimney, or the pipe
leading up to the roof, is partially clogged?

Sure. Could be a bird nest in there, for example.

I've heard others
mention too that it could be due to the air flow outside, causing the
smoke to drift inside the house.

That could be too. But less likely than an obstruction.


Also, the fireplace has what appear to be transparent doors on it (I'm
guessing they're glass, but not sure). Is it safe to close these
doors while the fireplace is lit? I just didn't want pressure to
build up or something weird to happen.

Yes, it's safe.


If the chimney/flue/pipe (whatever it's technical name is) is clogged,
what are the solutions? I've heard something about special logs you
can get for the fireplace that help clean out the pipe, do these help?
What do I need to repair this?

Those "special logs" are intended to help remove soot, and they really don't
do such a great job. The best thing to do is to hire a chimney sweep to
professionally clean your chimney. Make sure to tell the sweep about the
problem, and ask him to check for possible causes.

--
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Look at your water heater vent pipe. About 3 inch diameter, maybe 4?
Then look at your chimney. How big is it?
When you send vent gases out, you have to replace that air with air that
comes INTO the house. The water heater has an opening of maybe 12
square inches, the chimney has a lot more. So it has to pull air in from
around doors and windows to supply the draft for the smoke to go out the
chimney. If you've got a 'tight' house, that air won't be sufficient for the
chimney, and the fireplace won't be able to send the smoke up the chimney.
So where can it go, but into the room?
There are often openings for air to be pulled into the firebox area, to
supply
combustion air. Either you don't have them, or don't know about their
presence.
I suggest that you learn more about building a fire inside a house before
you
do it again. And remember that the utility companies see a fireplace as a
net
heat loss area. Especially if you forget to close the damper. You do know
about the damper, don't you? Don't answer that.

Dustin -o-m wrote in message
...

When I light up the fireplace, the room is filling up with smoke.
I've checked the flue and it's definitely opened as far as it can go.
What I'm wondering is, is it possible that the chimney, or the pipe
leading up to the roof, is partially clogged? I've heard others
mention too that it could be due to the air flow outside, causing the
smoke to drift inside the house.

Also, the fireplace has what appear to be transparent doors on it (I'm
guessing they're glass, but not sure). Is it safe to close these
doors while the fireplace is lit? I just didn't want pressure to
build up or something weird to happen.

If the chimney/flue/pipe (whatever it's technical name is) is clogged,
what are the solutions? I've heard something about special logs you
can get for the fireplace that help clean out the pipe, do these help?
What do I need to repair this?

Thanks,
Dustin

Heh, thanks for the help I guess. You're right, my house is a closed
system, the A/C and heater for instance never come on because my house
is sealed so tight..

But seriously, I understand your point, but sorry, my house is not
sealed that tightly. Nonetheless, do all fireplaces have dampers? I
haven't been on the roof of my house, so I couldn't say for sure if I
do. I have a flap that opens, but that's right above the firebox. Is
it possible to only have that (in fact, is that considered a damper?).

I've been lighting fires in the fireplace for 2 years, as recently as
a week or two ago, and today we had a significant problem with smoke
whereas all other times I haven't.

Anyway, I don't think I need to learn any more about building a fire,
I just need to learn a little about why my house filled up with smoke
today..

Thanks,
Dustin

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 13:56:27 -0500, "Michael Baugh"
wrote:

Look at your water heater vent pipe. About 3 inch diameter, maybe 4?
Then look at your chimney. How big is it?
When you send vent gases out, you have to replace that air with air that
comes INTO the house. The water heater has an opening of maybe 12
square inches, the chimney has a lot more. So it has to pull air in from
around doors and windows to supply the draft for the smoke to go out the
chimney. If you've got a 'tight' house, that air won't be sufficient for the
chimney, and the fireplace won't be able to send the smoke up the chimney.
So where can it go, but into the room?
There are often openings for air to be pulled into the firebox area, to
supply
combustion air. Either you don't have them, or don't know about their
presence.
I suggest that you learn more about building a fire inside a house before
you
do it again. And remember that the utility companies see a fireplace as a
net
heat loss area. Especially if you forget to close the damper. You do know
about the damper, don't you? Don't answer that.

Dustin -o-m wrote in message
.. .

When I light up the fireplace, the room is filling up with smoke.
I've checked the flue and it's definitely opened as far as it can go.
What I'm wondering is, is it possible that the chimney, or the pipe
leading up to the roof, is partially clogged? I've heard others
mention too that it could be due to the air flow outside, causing the
smoke to drift inside the house.

Also, the fireplace has what appear to be transparent doors on it (I'm
guessing they're glass, but not sure). Is it safe to close these
doors while the fireplace is lit? I just didn't want pressure to
build up or something weird to happen.

If the chimney/flue/pipe (whatever it's technical name is) is clogged,
what are the solutions? I've heard something about special logs you
can get for the fireplace that help clean out the pipe, do these help?
What do I need to repair this?

Thanks,
Dustin

That flap that opens up just above your firebox is indeed a damper. Make
sure it is fully open.

Try this the next time it smokes: Open an outside door or a window (in
the same room as the fireplace) about 1/2 way, and watch to see if the smoke
goes away. If it does (and I bet it does), then your house may be a bit
too airtight, and as another poster said, the fire has to get its air
**somewhere.**

I have also found that my fireplace, which draws well, will often smoke
when I first light it up, but after the flu has warmed well with a good fire
(perhaps 30 mins or so), the smoke will clear away. On a first fire, I
frequently have to open a glass sliding door halfway or even fully open, for
the first 30 mins or so.

BTW, always make sure you have a flu inspection at the beginning of each
season, to make sure you have no blockage and no soot buildup, either of
which could cause a fire.

Hope this helps !!

--James--

When I light up the fireplace, the room is filling up with smoke.
I've checked the flue and it's definitely opened as far as it can go.
What I'm wondering is, is it possible that the chimney, or the pipe
leading up to the roof, is partially clogged? I've heard others
mention too that it could be due to the air flow outside, causing the
smoke to drift inside the house.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife was watching Riple's Believe it or Not and
some family had this same problem. Upon investigation, they found out that a
buglar had attempted to come down the chimney some time ago and what
remained was a charred skeleton stuck in the flu. Police investigated and
identified the man as a bank robber who commited the robbery some 15 years
earlier. The found ID in his wallet, which was still intact, despite years
of smoke and heat going up the chimney. A gruesome discovery for the new
family that moved into that house!
I certainly hope that isn't the case with your chimney.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-

Thanks for the help, perhaps this is my problem. In this particular
case, I did have the fire going really well with quite a bit of wood
in the fireplace. Also, the wood is getting a little old, so it
doesn't burn as long, dunno if that makes it burn faster? (and thus
more smoke)

Anyway, good points, I'll take them into consideration. And as the
other poster said, I hope it's not a skeleton stuck in our chimney!

Thanks again..

-Dustin

On Sun, 8 Feb 2004 21:32:48 -0500, "James Nipper"
wrote:



That flap that opens up just above your firebox is indeed a damper. Make
sure it is fully open.

Try this the next time it smokes: Open an outside door or a window (in
the same room as the fireplace) about 1/2 way, and watch to see if the smoke
goes away. If it does (and I bet it does), then your house may be a bit
too airtight, and as another poster said, the fire has to get its air
**somewhere.**

I have also found that my fireplace, which draws well, will often smoke
when I first light it up, but after the flu has warmed well with a good fire
(perhaps 30 mins or so), the smoke will clear away. On a first fire, I
frequently have to open a glass sliding door halfway or even fully open, for
the first 30 mins or so.

BTW, always make sure you have a flu inspection at the beginning of each
season, to make sure you have no blockage and no soot buildup, either of
which could cause a fire.

Hope this helps !!

--James--