Why Is My Fireplace Smoky?

Your fireplace is one of the most valued parts of your Portland home. It provides you with warmth on chilly nights, and it's beautiful to look at. But if your fireplace is getting smoky, it can be a very dangerous situation. There are a number of different reasons that fireplaces in Portland become smoky.

When your fireplace gets too smoky, no matter what the cause is, it will be unpleasant and dangerous. The professional Portland masonry contractors at Sprenger Masonry can assist you with any masonry or fireplace repairs you may need to remedy the situation. Even if your draft is only a little ineffective, the smoke can do loads of damage to your home, your furniture, and even your health. Plus, many problems with fireplace drafts can be signals that your chimney is is in a state of disrepair, and that could lead to a fire.

If your fireplace has been releasing smoke into your home, here are a few things you should take a look at immediately:

Make Sure Your Damper Is Open

Especially if they don't light fires very often, many homeowners frequently forget to open their dampers before they start burning in their fireplaces in Portland. 

Your damper is basically a small door that leads from your fireplace to your flue. When you're heating your home with anything besides a fireplace, it's important the damper is closed to ensure that heated air doesn't escape through your chimney. When you light a fire in your fireplace, you need the damper to be opened to allow smoke to escape.

Especially if this is the beginning of the colder season in Portland, it can be very easy to forget to open your damper, so check this first.

Make Sure the Fire Isn't Built Too Far Forward

If you build your fire too far toward the hearth, smoke may flow into your home rather than up into the chimney. This will not normally occur, but it's a simple enough fix that you should check this before calling a professional.

The problem may also be than the fireplace is built incorrectly. Most likely, it's not the depth of the fireplace that's causing the problem, but the height. Call our masonry experts, and we can inspect the shape of your fireplace to ensure that the proportions are correct. We may need to modify the shape of your  Portland home's fireplace in order to ensure a proper flow of air through the flue.

Look Out for Downdrafts

Downdrafts—simple sir rushing down the chimney because of wind or other causes—can cause occasional puffs of smoke to come from your fireplace. If the problem is not consistent, it is most likely nothing to worry about.

If the downdrafts are occurring more frequently, there may be a problem with your chimney's structure. Call our masonry experts to inspect your chimney and make sure that no modifications are necessary to ensure the safety of your home.