When the Fireplace is not Drafting
One of the many pleasures that come along with the onset of cooler weather is lighting a fire in your fireplace at home. When you initially moved into your home, you undoubtedly had visions of spending many wintry evenings curled up in front of the fireplace with a nice book. The thought of a fireplace will almost always bring to mind recollections of happy times spent with friends and family laughing and sharing stories. They are taken aback as they are engulfed in a cloud of acrid smoke as the logs continue to burn far into the twilight hours.
Throw open the windows.
When the draft in your fireplace isn’t working properly, the first and most obvious thing to do is to make sure the smoke has somewhere to go. By cracking a window, not only can you let the stale air out of the room, but you can also bring in some newer, fresher air. You may even think about setting up a tiny portable fan to assist in directing the smoke directly out the nearest window.
It’s possible that doing this one easy action can fix your chimney drafting problems once and for all. As a result of the tight seals that are present in many modern homes as well as those that have undergone renovations to make them more energy efficient, smoke does not have a means of egress as it did in earlier, draftier homes. If your house is sealed up too tightly to allow for appropriate ventilation, you might need to lend it a hand by opening the windows in the rooms that are closest to the door. This will enable some fresh air to enter the house.
Check to See That the Flue of the Chimney Is Open
It is not unheard of for homeowners to seal up their flue and then forget to open it back up again, which may sound as ridiculous as it actually is. If you want to take a vacation from using your fireplace for a short while, this is not a terrible idea; nevertheless, it may become a major issue if you forget to reopen it when you are ready to use it again. Before contacting a professional for aid with a significant drafting issue, you should make sure that the flue has been checked.
Make Sure the Wood You’re Going to Burn Is Safe to Do So
Certain types of wood will, by their very nature, produce more smoke and debris than others. Unseasoned, green, or wet wood that has been just brought in from the great outdoors has not been given the opportunity to fully dry out and season. It is essential that you correctly store your firewood in order to allow it to dry out as quickly as possible.
When you light it on fire, it will most likely produce a heavy smoke that will make it challenging, even under the best of conditions, to get a good draft. If you already have a problem with the draft in your fireplace, it is extremely important that you examine the wood that you intend to burn to see whether or not it is dry.
Make Sure That Your Chimney Is Cleaned.
Even if you aren’t having any issues with the draft in your fireplace, you should still have your chimney cleaned once a year. This is something that should be on your list of things to do. This provides a chance for a trained specialist to identify any issues with your present chimney that you might be unaware even exist. To provide one example, it is not unheard of to discover creatures that have constructed dwellings deep within the chimney. It’s possible that they are birds or tiny creatures, but whatever it is, they’ve brought trash and other items with them that have clogged up the chimney and stopped it from drafting properly.
If you suspect that your chimney or fireplace is having some issues, have an expert inspect it. Call Local Chimney Sweep Cleaning today. We also offer Chimney Cleaning Auberry and other affordable services.