Need help with fireplace

[gs54]

I have a fireplace that I can't get to stop smoking into the room. I am burning dry seasoned wood. It is a 2 sided corner fireplace with glass doors. I've read you shouldn't burn with the doors closed but when I open them I get smoke in the house. If I open the doors a few inches the smoke will stay in the fireplace but when open them further smoke rolls out the top of the door frame. The back of the firebox is straight and I dont believe there is a smoke shelf. The old damper is missing and the opening is in the back of the firebox. I have a top sealing damper on it now. The smoke that comes out is a fine light smoke you cant see unless you shine a flash light on it. I attached some pictures of the firebox. It appears that there could be some kind of shelf over the front of the firebox I cant see very well through the damper frame. Would it be a good idea to cut out the old damper frame to make the opening bigger?

 

[bholler]

I have a fireplace that I can't get to stop smoking into the room. I am burning dry seasoned wood. It is a 2 sided corner fireplace with glass doors. I've read you shouldn't burn with the doors closed but when I open them I get smoke in the house. If I open the doors a few inches the smoke will stay in the fireplace but when open them further smoke rolls out the top of the door frame. The back of the firebox is straight and I dont believe there is a smoke shelf. The old damper is missing and the opening is in the back of the firebox. I have a top sealing damper on it now. The smoke that comes out is a fine light smoke you cant see unless you shine a flash light on it. I attached some pictures of the firebox. It appears that there could be some kind of shelf over the front of the firebox I cant see very well through the damper frame. Would it be a good idea to cut out the old damper frame to make the opening bigger?

It is a very poorly designed fireplace. Id don't really see a way to make that work.

 

[begreen]

Maybe drop a liner down the flue and put in an insert?

 

[bholler]

Maybe drop a liner down the flue and put in an insert?

Well yeah that will for sure

 

[gs54]

I would really like to keep it an open fireplace and Im not sure how I would do an insert with the corner design. Whats wrong with the design? Does the lack of smoke shelf cause a poor draft? Would making the damper opening larger help the draft? The flue liner is 8x12 and chimney is about 15ft high

 

[bholler]

I would really like to keep it an open fireplace and Im not sure how I would do an insert with the corner design. Whats wrong with the design? Does the lack of smoke shelf cause a poor draft? Would making the damper opening larger help the draft? The flue liner is 8x12 and chimney is about 15ft high

That large flat area in front of the damper area will make it impossible for it to draft properly. No real way to change that. And the liner is way too small. Some rough figures looking at the open area it should be a 12x18 flue.

 

[bholler]

The lack of a smoke shelf will actually improve draft. They are not good for draft at all.

 

[gs54]

Any ideas for an insert? Should I just look for a small freestanding stove that will fit in the fireplace