Why is smoke coming into the room?
When smoke rolls back into the house, something is stopping the chimney from drawing it up and out. The good news is that the cause is usually simple to find.
The short answer
What is going on
Smoke comes into the room when the chimney cannot pull it up fast enough. The usual causes are a damper that is not fully open, a flue narrowed by creosote or blocked by a nest, a cold chimney, or a house so tightly sealed that the fire cannot get enough air. An inspection finds which one it is.
The usual causes
Most smoky fireplaces come down to one of five things.
The damper is not fully open
It sounds simple, but a damper that is partly closed or stuck is a common cause. Check it before every fire.
Buildup or a blockage in the flue
Creosote narrows the flue, and nests, leaves or debris can block it. Either one slows the draft. A chimney cleaning clears it.
A cold flue
Cold air sitting in the chimney pushes back against the smoke until the flue warms up. This is common on the first fire of the season, and on cold, still days.
Not enough air in the house
A fire needs air. In a tightly sealed home, or with exhaust fans running, the house can pull air down the chimney instead of letting smoke go up.
A rough smoke chamber or wrong flue size
A rough, stepped smoke chamber or a flue that is the wrong size for the fireplace can cause ongoing smoke problems. Smoke chamber parging or relining can help.
What you can try now
These steps often help while you wait for a visit:
- Open the damper fully and check that it stays open
- Crack a nearby window slightly when you light the fire
- Turn off kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans while the fire burns, since they pull air out of the house
- Burn dry, seasoned wood and build a small, hot fire first
- Hold a rolled-up sheet of newspaper, lit, near the damper for a moment to warm the flue before you light the fire
How we fix it
We inspect the damper, flue, smoke chamber and cap to find the cause, then explain it in plain English. Buildup and blockages come out during a cleaning. If the cause is the smoke chamber or the flue size, we explain the repair options, and you decide.
Call (918) 361-4929 to book an inspection in Tulsa or nearby towns.
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Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.
Related questions
Questions about this problem
Another question? Call us and talk to a real person.
Is it safe to keep using a fireplace that smokes?
Smoke in the room is unhealthy to breathe and can point to a blockage or heavy buildup. Stop using the fireplace and have it checked.
Why does my fireplace only smoke when I first light it?
That is usually a cold flue. Cold air in the chimney pushes back until the flue warms. A small, hot starter fire helps. If it keeps happening, have the chimney checked.
Can a chimney cap cause smoke problems?
A cap screen clogged with soot can slow the draft. We check the cap screen when we clean the chimney.
Common chimney problems
Something not right with your fireplace?
Start with the problem. Each answer explains the likely causes and what we do about them.
Why does my house smell like a fireplace?
Causes of a smoky or sooty smell, and how we fix it.
Why is my chimney leaking?
Where the water gets in, and how we stop it.
Book your sweep
Ready for a safe, clean burn season?
Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.