Smoking Fire

[brooky_agb]

I didn't know what forum to put this in so please excuse me if I got the wrong one.

We just moved into a house with a lovely fireplace and the chimney sweep came on Saturday and left reporting no problems.

We lit the fire and the room soon became smokey. I was really gutted as I had been looking forward to firing it up for some time. Opening the windows and holding a fire blanket at the top seemed to help a tiny bit.

I attached a photo... it looks like it is partly blocked by a flue holder. Notice the semi circle on the edge of a panel to the left.

What should I do? I suppose I need to remove that and do a smoke test...

Has anyone experience of this?

 

[kevplumb]

We just moved into a house with a lovely fireplace and the chimney sweep came on Saturday and left reporting no problems.

this was after he smoke tested the flue of course
and left you the paperwork

 

[Agile]

Is this a wood fire?

Did the sweep do a smoke test on the flue?

A fire will need combustion air sourced from outside unless you have a very old draughty house!

Sometimes the flue needs to be heated before they exert enough "pull" to not spill smoke.

Have you had fires there before?

 

[brooky_agb]

Thanks for getting back to me..

Is this a wood fire?

>> Yes. I've attached a photo.

Did the sweep do a smoke test on the flue?

>> No not that I'm aware of.

A fire will need combustion air sourced from outside unless you have a very old draughty house!

>> The house was built in 1844. I have no idea if it has or not.

Sometimes the flue needs to be heated before they exert enough "pull" to not spill smoke.

>> I tried that as I got a reasonable draw when covering part of it. Taking it away and it seem to want to go out quickly even though it was good covered.

Have you had fires there before?
>> No it was the first time but it certainly looks like it hs been used before. The sweep said it had an old cowel on it.

Thanks again for your help. I'm desperate to get it working.

 

[brooky_agb]

They left me paperwork but we had guests and I didn't study it. I'll have a look tonight...

 

[kevplumb]

try burning old newspaper in the fireplace to warm the flue and keep the door open

as stated if not used for a while it might need drying out

btw the sweep should have tested it

 

[brooky_agb]

I'll give it another try... did you see the partially blocked part in my first photo?
Is that normal or do I need to take it out? I don't even know what it might be made of.. so I donlt know how to take it out. Also scared it may be asbestos!?

I'll try it again tonight with the window open and a fire blanket partially covering it to try and get it roaring to dry/heat it up.

 

[Agile]

I cannot guess what it is but probably made of iron.

Try pushing it to one side with a stick.

I am not convinced that its going to make much difference even if it was fully open.

Apparently the sweep got his brushes past it and did not say it was a problem.

This "cowel" is presumably on top of the chimney. Can you post a picture of it from as close as possible. ( Ladder? ).

You could try asking the sweep about your problems.

You might need a plate covering the upper part of the opening so that the fire does not find all the draught coming in from above it.

Tony

 

[brooky_agb]

Thanks for all your help. You have all been great. I will try these things.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Looks to me that you have a lovely feature there, fireplace like that you should be able to burn wood or coal I would think. Ive got a horrible tiled affair from the 60's, until I get round to changing it. I wish the original 1896 hearth was still in situ...

Assuming the hearth in question is on the ground floor, I wonder if the 'obstruction' could be where the flue is 'pushed' to one side to accomodate a grate in the room above. My house has grate in living room, central to chimney, upstairs the grate is offcentre to allow the flue from the lower grate to pass.

 

[brooky_agb]

Thanks for your kind words. I'll check that out to thanks. Its on the ground floor yes. I don't think the tiles are original though sadly.

 

[CaptainDarling]

Try these links, i was having a similar problem with a woodburner (lined chimney), they are more stove specific but its the same kind of thing

http://www.woodstove.com/guidepdfs/Cures For Backpuffing.pdf

http://www.stovesonline.co.uk/smoking-fireplace-stove.html

CD

 

[brooky_agb]

Thanks

 

[brooky_agb]

Well this evening I got a paint roller extenders and knocked down a whole bunch of crap... Slate rubble and some metal came down?! I then lit the fire and it took really well. So well I put a log on and it burned beautifully.... Almost as soon as I put the log in smoke poured into the room!

I just don't get it. The draw seemed really good. It's either that it fills with smoke or the wind blows it back down. The house is quite exposed and it does get very windy here. It was really calm this evening though. I'm at a loss.

I have a smokey, smelly, dirty house. I've had to go to bed with the living room windows open and a fan on.

I went outside whilst the fire was burning but I only have a really crappy torch and couldn't see if smoke was coming from one of the pots.

 

[glasgowgas]

have you smoke bombed the flue??