Is this any good to help with chimney draw

ChasingtheWelshdream

twopenny said:

I'd find someone of the older generation who is used to laying fires to help you start from scratch.

That made me laugh, and also makes me feel old (still in 30s!!) but I do pride myself on never using firelighters - lay carefully, one match and build up slowly until it's going nicely. 

I've lived with open fires/stoves all my life and echo everything that has been said above. Ventilation in the room is key - if opening the door/window improves the draught, there's your answer. In our old house (open fire), we installed floor vents either side of the hearth to provide ventilation where needed and reduce the draught blowing across our feet.

If the chimney is overshadowed by trees/buildings, I believe you can get some kind of anti-down draught cowl things, but I've never seen anything like that picture. 

As Eldi Dos says, when starting the fire, covering the front will force the air underneath and really get it going. In blatant disregard of H&S, I found a couple of sheets of newspaper the perfect fit. (Being extra careful as it was not unknown for it to catch the flames if held in the wrong place!)

Although, given the choice, I'd go for a stove every time. We replaced this house's open hearth with a stove and it is far more efficient, safer and warmer. An extra expense, but it changed use from the occasional fire for ambience (as it loved to drag a breeze across the room), to our main source of heat downstairs. 

EssexExile

Eldi_Dos said:

Op, the device you show is like something you would be upsold if getting pizza oven or garden room with a firepit,did chimney sweep say why he suggested it.
In the era of open fires it was commonplace to have a metal shield with a substantial handle that you would place over fire opening when fire was being lit, with a bit of practice you learned how to control airflow till fire was well lit and downdraft was not an issue, occasionally you would have to re use shield when stoking up the fire if fuel was wet or poor quality. As others have said ventilation is important use trickle vents in window or get some installed.
It's a nice thing to sit in front of a open fire on a winter evening in the company of Mr Bushmills, the world can seem a better place then.

Luxury, we used to use a sheet of newspaper.

Eldi_Dos

EssexExile said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Op, the device you show is like something you would be upsold if getting pizza oven or garden room with a firepit,did chimney sweep say why he suggested it.
In the era of open fires it was commonplace to have a metal shield with a substantial handle that you would place over fire opening when fire was being lit, with a bit of practice you learned how to control airflow till fire was well lit and downdraft was not an issue, occasionally you would have to re use shield when stoking up the fire if fuel was wet or poor quality. As others have said ventilation is important use trickle vents in window or get some installed.
It's a nice thing to sit in front of a open fire on a winter evening in the company of Mr Bushmills, the world can seem a better place then.

Luxury, we used to use a sheet of newspaper.

Many of the men in our area worked in the shipyards or engineering so offcut's had a way of finding their way home,for many a young lad drilling the metal and attaching the handle with aluminium rivet's was their introduction to metalwork.
But try telling the young people today that.

BikingBud

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

twopenny said:

I'd find someone of the older generation who is used to laying fires to help you start from scratch.

That made me laugh, and also makes me feel old (still in 30s!!) but I do pride myself on never using firelighters - lay carefully, one match and build up slowly until it's going nicely. 

I've lived with open fires/stoves all my life and echo everything that has been said above. Ventilation in the room is key - if opening the door/window improves the draught, there's your answer. In our old house (open fire), we installed floor vents either side of the hearth to provide ventilation where needed and reduce the draught blowing across our feet.

If the chimney is overshadowed by trees/buildings, I believe you can get some kind of anti-down draught cowl things, but I've never seen anything like that picture. 

As Eldi Dos says, when starting the fire, covering the front will force the air underneath and really get it going. In blatant disregard of H&S, I found a couple of sheets of newspaper the perfect fit. (Being extra careful as it was not unknown for it to catch the flames if held in the wrong place!)

Although, given the choice, I'd go for a stove every time. We replaced this house's open hearth with a stove and it is far more efficient, safer and warmer. An extra expense, but it changed use from the occasional fire for ambience (as it loved to drag a breeze across the room), to our main source of heat downstairs. 

Hopefully by the time the paper caught fire the draw was good enough and it went up the chimney  

But to be safety aware see:
https://www.theironmongers.co.uk/pokers-tools-sets/new-large-17-x-17-inch-draw-tin-sheet-draught-plate-fire-starter-metal