Fire Smokes

Why does my fire smoke?

Smoking that isn't a significant problem

The reasons why a fire may smoke are varied. Even the nature of the smoking can vary, and often gives clues to the causes. It's worth noting that under certain conditions some chimneys may smoke, but otherwise they work just fine. Many people live with these cicumstances as part and parcel of having a real open fire, but you should always seek professional advice from organisations such as the Institute of Chimney Sweeps or National Association of Chimney Sweeps. 

One reason a fireplace may have a serious smoke problem concerns the fire place or chimney itself. Correct chimney performance is achieved by creating the right physical conditions for smoke and gases be drawn up a chimney. The other causes of poor performance can be external factors affecting the ability of a well proportioned chimney to perform. A third area can be poor maintenance causing performance to deteriorate.

Camelot Thermovernt wood burning open fires have an excellent track record in addressing poor performing fires or chimneys.

Only you can decide if the smoking you have is a problem. There may be a health and safety aspect, so always seek first hand specific advice if you are in doubt from orgnaisations such as the Institute of Chimney Sweeps or National Association of Chimney Sweeps. Essentially, what we are reffering to here is the occasional case of minimal smoke into the room, perhaps only upon first lighting the fire under certain rare conditions. Cold flues or freak wind conditions outside can cause this to happen, but it may not be a reason to invest time and money in changing the funamentals of your fire.

If the possibility of smoke is such that it puts you off lighting the fire you should certainly look at a solution if you want to use the fire.

Camelot Thermovernt wood burning open fires have an excellent track record in addressing poor performing fires or chimneys.

The wrong physical criteria

Poor maintenance

There is an element of science behind a successful chimney. The wrong physical criteria in a fireplace or flue will mean it won't work at all, or will suffer poor performance which could be dangerous.

Dimensions such as flue diameter, total flue height and fireplace opening area are key criteria for a successful fire. Voids (inconsisent spaces) anywhere up the length of the flue can create pockets of cold air or smoke traps where smoke can swirl and lose momentum. Chimney pots often get added as a relatively simple action to try to address a problem, but sometimes make them worse. Finally, but most importantly, air supply. A fire burns oxygen, so it needs a source of air to thrive. Many modern houses have solid floors and excellent window and door seals. Thus, unless provided, the fire can't find enough oxygen to burn and is trying to pull smoke from a closed pocket which makes the job impossible.

Camelot Thermovernt wood burning open fires have an excellent track record in addressing poor performing fires or chimneys.

Poor maintenance of your fire or chimney may cause it to smoke overtime. A build up of soot or tar through insufficient sweeping of the chimney will reduce the effective diameter of the flue at points, as well as increase the risk of chimney fires.

Birds Nests (see picture) can accumulate a huge amount of material in a flue very quickly. Other obstructions, caused by paper rising and sticking in a chimney, can also cause blockage. More structural deteriation in the fabric of the chimney as mortar breaks down etc can cause a leaking chimney which effecitvely doesn't perform to its apparent physical criteria because it is letting air in somewhere along the flue. A blocked air supply through leaves, or well intentioned but ill informed 'draft sealing', could also cause your fire to smoke.

External factors causing a fire to smoke

Even in a situation where the phyiscal criteria is right, external factors can cause a fire to smoke all the time, or regularly enough to be a problem. We mentioned poor air supply previously, but this can be a significant issue and sometimes people don't realise where the air supply is if it isn't an air brick. Many properties have other fires or extraction systems, or even informal flue systems such as a poorly fitting loft hatch, which can create competitition for the supply of air in a home. If that competition is strong enough it will cause your fire to smoke.

External pressure difference can effectively put an air pressure cap on the top of your chimney. Ridge lines of your roof in relation to the top of the chimney or large trees or banks close by can have a noticeable impact on chimney performance - especially on a windy day. Finally a cold chimney is full of air that doesn't want to rise. Upon lighting your fire, this air has to get moving before your smoke can get out. This is the reason most old houses had chimney breasts - by putting the chimney on the inside it will be warmer and work better from the start. Chimneys or flues on the outer wall suffer more in this respect.

NOTE TO THE READER. All the information on this website is provided with the intention of increasing the readers ability to identify a poor performing fire and find ways to address any such issues. Professional advice from qualified people based on specifc knowledge of your chimney or fire is the only way to safely identify issues and solutions. In no way does Camelot Real Fires or any of its employees intend you should use the information provided here or anywhere else on this site to make your own diagnosis and take action to address a percieved issue. The result of doing so could be a costly failure or even result in danger and harm to your loved ones or other users of the fire. We accept no liability for any claims arisings from use of information from this site for such purposes.

 

 

 

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