Open fire setting off smoke alarms

Eliza_2

A few times recently when I light my open fire it sets off the upstairs landing fire alarm. I've assumed it's because the initial smokiness has crept up from the kitchen where the fire actually is. However it's done it again tonight and there was virtually no smoke from the actual fire inside the house and the door to upstairs was closed anyway. You can smell slight smokiness up on the landing but nowhere else. I've managed to stop it by opening every window in the house and trying to rake the fire down. I can only think it's because somehow smoke is leaking from the chimney into the roof void perhaps or elsewhere. I was terrified I might have a chimney fire but it seems there's only smoke coming out of the chimney outside. Damn it's just gone off again! (waves magazine at it to stop it!)

I need to call someone out to look at it tomorrow - who do I ask? Is this something a chimney sweep can diagnose or should it be a builder or who?

Many thanks, Liz

SG27

A chimney sweep should do it. They normally offer chimney inspections. When was the last time you had it swept? Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? I wouldn't light it again until it's sorted.

yangptangkipperbang

A decent chimney sweep should do a test first (with a smoke candle) to see how well your fireplace is "drawing". Get that done.
That will tell him where the problem may lie - either with a leaking chimney or a poorly vented/supplied fire place (most likely).