In order to function safely and properly, your chimney needs a good draft that helps pull out the exhaust gases from your home. Without this draft, you will likely have a smoky chimney, which means every time you try to light a fire in the fireplace, smoke will rush into the room instead of going out of the chimney. Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists want you to enjoy your fireplace, and if you are dealing with a smoky chimney, you probably will not want to use your fireplace as often as you would like. A poor chimney draft can even affect your home in the summer by forcing smelly and smoky air into your home. We would like to tell you a few reasons why you are having chimney draft problems and how we can help to correct this issue.

Your chimney flue is the wrong size.

If you have updated your fireplace with an insert, your flue could be too large for the new appliance. When the flue is too large, smoke and the other byproducts of combustion tend to recirculate inside the chimney instead of exiting your home. Your flue could also be too small, which restricts airflow. Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists can take a look at your flue to see if there is a size problem, and we can install a new stainless steel chimney liner to provide a correctly-sized flue.

Your chimney is not tall enough.

To meet modern codes and standards, your chimney should extend at least two feet above the roof line. If your chimney is shorter than this, you will have draft problems because its length affects its ability to create an updraft, according to SF Gate. We can lengthen your chimney so that it meets the proper building codes and is able to create the right type of draft.

Your home is creating negative air pressure.

Many homeowners weatherize their homes to restrict air leaks out of windows and doors, and while this will help you save on utility bills, it can also create negative air pressure within your home. Your fireplace needs replacement air so that the chimney will draft properly, and there may not be enough air due to the weatherization. One way to correct this problem is to open a window in the room where your fireplace is to provide the right amount of replacement air.

Chim Cheree The Chimney Specialists can also help improve your chimney draft by installing a chimney cap that is equipped with side vents that direct the wind to help pull out exhaust gases. Contact us if you need help with your smoky chimney.