insert drafting weird....getting smoke inside house

[Boom Stick]

so when I build a fire and keep doors cracked to get it going I start to get smoke in the house where as this has never happened before. Even when fire is hot and I reload some wood I get smoke. Any ideas and thoughts about what I should be looking for to remedy this. I recently swept chimney liner before I started to burn this season. I have burned 2 full seasons already and never had this happen. Thanks!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Well, It's a windy 61 here in Schenectady. I'm not burning tonight. I'm going to bet if you normally don't have wood smoke in the house it's due the chimney not drafting well in the warm temperatures and occasional wind down the chimeny.

Matt

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Yeah, I think it's the warm outside temps doing it, mine did the same thing today, very unusual but it must be the law of physics, or something like that, I know I will be corrected if wrong.... about the physics part that is.....

 

[Grisu]

Well, It's a windy 61 here in Schenectady. I'm not burning tonight. I'm going to bet if you normally don't have wood smoke in the house it's due the chimney not drafting well in the warm temperatures and occasional wind down the chimeny.

Matt

That is a good option. I would also look at the chimney cap to make sure the screen is not clogged. Any changes to the house that could have affected draft? (weathersealing windows etc.) Is the air control hole open/unplugged?

 

[Sprinter]

For how many fires and days has this happened this season? Every one this season or were some okay? When did you start this season?

 

[Laurent Cyr]

Yeah, mine has been doing the same due to the warm weather. If I turn the air down, there is not as much draft as before, and smoke enters the room. I just keep the air intake open a little more than usual in those circumstances.

 

[TradEddie]

After you prepare the fire, toss in a very loosely crumpled newspaper on top and light that first, once those flames die out, light the fire. The quick blast of heat usually overcomes the downdraft and allows the fire to draft well. Opening a nearby exterior door sometimes helps too.

TE

 

[Dix]

Well, It's a windy 61 here in Schenectady. I'm not burning tonight. I'm going to bet if you normally don't have wood smoke in the house it's due the chimney not drafting well in the warm temperatures and occasional wind down the chimeny.

Matt

What Limestone said.

I regretted firing off the PE last night, temps never dropped below 60F here last night (after a projected 40F ). Ended up opening a window or two and just letting the PE die out.

 

[Boom Stick]

So tonight was cold and still smoke coming in as I let fire get started after I got home from work. Last spring I cut a piece of diamond mesh and put it around the inside of my chimney cap to prevent birds from building a nest as they had the year before. I figured I would burn with it this year but it has clogged up pretty good with creosote. I pulled it out and it is drafting better......My next question is should I now sweep liner again? I did so before I started burning this year but there was a good bit of creosote on the diamond mesh. Thanks!

 

[Sprinter]

So tonight was cold and still smoke coming in as I let fire get started after I got home from work. Last spring I cut a piece of diamond mesh and put it around the inside of my chimney cap to prevent birds from building a nest as they had the year before. I figured I would burn with it this year but it has clogged up pretty good with creosote. I pulled it out and it is drafting better......My next question is should I now sweep liner again? I did so before I started burning this year but there was a good bit of creosote on the diamond mesh. Thanks!

I would take a look at least, but the mesh will always build up before anyplace else. It's the coldest place. My screen clogged up pretty fast when I first got the stove, but I had no creosote at all last year. The screen hasn't clogged since either. But my operation methods improved. I remember my installer hated that he even had to install the screen. He told me that it would keep clogging up, but it never did after the first time.

It's good policy to inspect and clean if necessary a few times a season

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I'd run a brush through it. You might as well rule that out as in issue for the smoke. We'll be down to 20 tonight and we're a good way there already.

By the way, what part of the Capital Region are you in?

Matt