We have all been there. The fireplace and chimney do not work, and who knows why. That’s where the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) comes in. They have a great article that talks about 100 reasons your fireplace does not work. In this article, they cover what the usual causes of a non-functioning fireplace are. If you have covered their recommendations already, then it is recommended that you call your local chimney sweep.
- Is your damper fully open? Check this first. Believe me. It has happened to the best of us.
- Is your firewood moist from precipitation? Moist firewood does not produce as much heat as dry wood. It produces more smoke.
- Do you have a dirty chimney? A large buildup of soot can restrict the airflow of a chimney, which will cause your chimney to not work properly.
- Is your chimney tall enough? Chimneys need to be 10 to 12 feet tall in order to function properly.
- Is your flue large enough? If the flue is not big enough to handle the fireplace opening, it will not be able to handle all of the smoke.
- Is your chimney on the outside of the house? This tends to be affected by cold weather. Since the air outside is cold, the air inside the chimney will also be cold. It is just something you have to have patience with, and the fire will take a bit longer to start.
- Is your house buttoned up too tight? Houses that don’t have enough of a draft don’t allow for the chimney to breath. It needs air from inside the house to push the smoke out of the chimney.
- Is your house too loose? A home that has too much draft can actually overpower your chimney, and keep a fire from getting started.
- Is there a return air grill in the same room as the fireplace? The furnace in your house can be triggered by the cold air coming in from the chimney. It pushes air through the return air grill, thus competing with the chimney.
- The other 91 reasons. We could keep going down the list, but they can be rather complicated. Call your local chimney sweep to examine your chimney, and get it working today.