Smoky Fire Help

sheerdelight

Is your chimney vented low down just above at eaves ratther on or near ridge line. If it is far down the roof the chimney may be under pressure thereby producing at worst a downdraft or at best very little draw. Depends very much on shape and angle of roof but location of chimney can increase draft(too much in some cases!) or reduce draft too much.

There is an art to chimney design which I think has been lost over the years. Look at detached houses from the the mid 20 th centurywith hip roofs to see how high they were built up from the eaves so as to clear ridge line.

My last house the oil boiler flue was too low and had a down draft causing fumes to blow down into the utility room. In this house the open fire has a serious draft that draws air through lounge even when there is no fire.

dumbo

ballyblack wrote: »

Ok. Is there any way to introduce more air flow to the base of the fire? ie raise the grate

Thanks Ballyblack, byu I have done this to no avail. I spoke with a certified chimneysweep, (as I just found out the guy who previously swept the chimney was not certified) he is gonna call on Friday & redo sweep & smoke check & let me know what he thinks. So fingers crossed he can help.

I will let you know how it goes

dumbo

sheerdelight wrote: »

Is your chimney vented low down just above at eaves ratther on or near ridge line. If it is far down the roof the chimney may be under pressure thereby producing at worst a downdraft or at best very little draw. Depends very much on shape and angle of roof but location of chimney can increase draft(too much in some cases!) or reduce draft too much.

There is an art to chimney design which I think has been lost over the years. Look at detached houses from the the mid 20 th centurywith hip roofs to see how high they were built up from the eaves so as to clear ridge line.

My last house the oil boiler flue was too low and had a down draft causing fumes to blow down into the utility room. In this house the open fire has a serious draft that draws air through lounge even when there is no fire.

Thanks Sheer delight, I have had a look at the chimney but its above the ridge of the roof on the outside wall of the house, maybe its just not high enough, hopefully certified chimney sweep will be able to judge this.

Thanks again

sheerdelight

I know it has been touched on already but does fire work with door or window open ie is it getting enough air. The first house I bought I lit the fire on first day and went to make some food in kitchen hoping to come back to find lovely fire but room was full of smoke. Fire would always smoke unless door was open. Tell tale signs on canopy over fire would indicate previous owner had problems too. I had to put draught vent (Irish postbox!) above the door into the room. What a mess to cut a hole in the wall.

dumbo

Hi Sheerdelight

I already have a vent above the door so I dont think this is the problem. Hopefully I will be able to tell you more tomorrow after chimney sweep has been. Keep your fingers crossed.;)

dumbo

I want to thank all those who replied with their advice. My CERTIFIED chimney sweep "mr Sooty" from Banbridge cleaned my chimney & found a birds nest which the previous chimney sweep missed by not putting the brushes high enough, i have definately learned my lesson for the future. Mr Sooty also said that there was cement causing a narrowing of my chimney caused by the builder & removed that also, result being I now have a roaring open fire with no smoke into the room. Hooray at last.
I can highly reccommend Mr Sooty who charged a very reasonable price for his services, he even has his own website:

http://www.mrsooty.com
:j:T:beer:l

arkonite_babe

Thanks Dumbo for coming back and letting us know how you got the problem, resolved