Why the fireplace smokes into the room and there is no draft: reasons for how to prevent it from smoking

The reason why a fireplace smokes can most often be explained by weak draft. Moreover, the reasons for this phenomenon can be very different. The easiest way is to open the damper completely, turn off the forced ventilation (if any) and create a draft in the room. Although there are more complex cases, which are described in detail in this material.

Main reasons

If you notice smoke, fireplace repair is not necessary as the cause may be quite simple. for example, related to the quality of firewood. Although there are other factors that also need to be taken into account. The most common are:

1. Wet firewood is denser, heavier, light-colored when cut, and produces a dull sound when struck. In addition, fresh wood has a distinct forest smell, which is not characteristic of dry wood.
2. A closed damper - it must be opened to create draft, because otherwise the fireplace will smoke.
3. Serious contamination of the chimney again leads to a weakening of draft, which causes smoke to begin. This situation is also dangerous because the wood does not burn completely, carbon monoxide is formed, which in severe cases can lead to poisoning.
4. When a fireplace smokes, the reasons should be sought in poor draft. And it can also be observed due to the absence of a draft. Unlike a stove, a fireplace needs an influx of large volumes of air, so it is advisable to create a draft in the room.
5. If a forced ventilation system is installed, then during intensive operation it can create reverse draft. As a result, air along with smoke will flow back into the room. This explains why the fireplace smokes into the room.
6. In winter, smoke may be associated with strong temperature changes. When the fireplace has not been lit for a long time, when the damper is opened, cold air flows under its own weight into the warm room. Along the way, it also captures a certain amount of smoke.
7. It is quite possible to understand what to do when the fireplace smokes if you find the reason. If the chimney is clean and the draft is quite normal, smoke may be due to improper stacking of firewood. When small wood chips, cardboard, birch bark and other kindling material are on the bottom, and large firewood is on top, this can really lead to smoke.
8. If there is no draft in the fireplace, the reasons may also be related to the weather. When there is a strong wind that blows directly into the chimney, the appearance of smoke is almost inevitable, even if all conditions for draft are created. Therefore, in such weather it is better to refrain from using the fireplace.
9. Finally, the most difficult reason (in terms of elimination) is the incorrect design of the fireplace. For example, a firebox with large dimensions or when it is placed too high compared to the chimney. The fireplace smokes into the room due to the low chimney. Usually such reasons are observed due to unprofessional installation.

What to do to prevent the fireplace from smoking

Having clarified the cause, you can move on to eliminating it. Options could be:

1. Learn to distinguish dry firewood from wet firewood. Even if the manufacturer claims that the wood is dry, this may not be true - it is better to check before purchasing. You can’t make a mistake, because firewood takes quite a long time to dry – up to a year.
2. Open the damper and windows, ensure air flow, draft at least during the first stage of kindling.
3. Place large firewood on the bottom and kindling material on top.
4. Clean the chimney yourself or call a specialist.
5. Turn off the forced ventilation system.
6. Do not light the fireplace if there is a strong, hurricane wind outside.
7. The most difficult option on how to prevent a fireplace from smoking involves eliminating mistakes made during installation of the firebox or chimney. It is necessary to increase the height of the pipe and reduce the size of the stove. If the fireplace is made in a handicraft way, it is best to invite a specialist.

Thus, most of the reasons are associated with poor traction, and therefore it is quite simple to eliminate. To ensure that the smoke rises well, it is necessary to clean the chimney every year, even if the fireplace is not used often. But if all else fails, the smoke is most likely due to faulty design. In such cases, you need to carry out major repairs or even install another fireplace.