chimney liner for open fireplace with not very good chimney ?

[Rossi]

Hello everybody, long time reader, 1st time poster

We have a beautiful open fireplace which over the last few months has been giving us some major issues.
After a while, the house begins to fill with smoke, initially I thought it may have been the height of the chimney, however I extended the chimney and it still smokes after a while.
We've also had the chimney cleaned.

It wasn't until a took a closer look at the inner walls of the chimney and noticed smoke was pouring out of the chimney wall straight into the room.
What's strange about this is that those bricks are the "outer" chimney, if you get on the roof and look down the chimney, it has the main centre cavity where you can see the fireplace below, but then on either side of it there are to cavities the run down along the side of the main chimney.
Which are the bricks you see in the picture.

My logical conclusion is that the inner chimney must have some mortar breaks or holes which is allowing the smoke to seep out into the outer cavity of the chimney then come into the room.

My question is, can I get a chimney liner for an open fireplace ?
Is there a requirement for a collector above the fire, like an upside down funnel, I forget what it's called.

We are considering just putting in a wood heater but would like to see if there is a cheaper alternative.
Wood is not an issue, we have an endless supply

Please excuse the terrible picture lol

Thanks for your time.


Here's the picture !

 

[bholler]

Yes you can line an open fp. And yes some smoke chamber work will need to be done. Honestly i would seriously consider putting in an insert and smaller liner. It will make much more heat and be way more efficient. Also a liner big enough to handle an open fp and the work on the smoke chamber is going to be pretty expensive. It will not cost to much more to get a stove and smaller liner

 

[begreen]

Agreed, a good wood stove insert connected to a stainless liner will increase safety, fuel efficiency and heating ability. That said, I would contact a few good masons to look at the chimney structure to confirm its integrity, design and the potential for lining.

 

[granpajohn]

I had this situation, (not as bad), traditional masonry FP design.
The short story is that the liner was in fine shape. Smoke was caused by the various edge points where the top of the firebox meets the smoke shelf area. (No, I don't know what to call it). I sealed all that area using a caulk-tube style high heat mortar repair...made by Rutland....and everything was fine.
...But....
... It was still an open FP, and it was only a couple years before I installed the insert, (with SS liner). Wish I had done that from the start. You might too.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

im with "the b's" fireplaces are so terribly inefficient, wasteful of wood and allow far more pollution than a modern clean burning appliance does.

I see you are in Australia, not too familiar with the laws regulations and thus incentives offer up by the government to goad folks into looking into a reburn type unit, but I know its a hot topic down under. I follow the "Christchurch log burners action group" on facebook a bunch of folks from down your way that are into woodburning and may be able to give you a heads up on possibilities.

FWIW though , were it me assuming the chimney itself does not have structural damage if you intend to use the fireplace for more than just occasional entertainment , look hard at an insert. they're "clean", "green" and far better at making usable heat than the old open hearth could ever be.

cheers!

 

[Rossi]

Thanks very much for all your responses.
We'll most likely go with the a new insert.