Any masons out there???
I have a fireplace in my recentley purchased rancher.
My problem is logs dont stay lit, there is a smokey burn, smoke is going up the flue!!!, and the logs eventually burn out(there are intake vents at the bottom that are open). What is my problem.
p.s. I know how to light a fire or maybe not
How about some advice on my problem
Thank You, Lou
Replies
Use smaller/dryer wood.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
>>>My problem is logs dont stay lit, there is a smokey burn, smoke is going up the flue!!!
Your fireplace, or wood stove, will draw more air up the chimney as it gets colder outside. The amount of air 'drafted' up the chimney is directly proportional to the difference between the outside temperature and the inside. It's hard to keep a hot, clean burning fire when the outside temperature is well above freezing temp.
Here's what I do when it's not quite cold enough outside:
- use really dry wood, split into smallish pieces. Start with only a few pieces in the stove.
- build a starter fire of paper and dry cedar kindling *ON TOP* of the smallish pieces that you've placed in the stove. Leave the door open until it's well lit and drafting well.
- be sure that an open window, door, or ventilation pipe is preventing any negative pressure from forming inside the house. This is *IMPORTANT* in warmish weather. I once had a bathroom fan (100 CFM) that created just enough negative pressure inside the house to snuff out a fire by preventing exhaust gases (smoke) from rising up the chimney. When the fan was turned off the fire lept to life.
...Or you can just wait for colder weather. You'll be amazed with the difference. Below -10C the problem with my stove is overheating (turning red and melting), not suffocation.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Sometimes it's just a matter of getting the air in the flue, or most probably the flue itself, warm enough to support the drafting. If the other suggestions don't work, try rolling up some newspaper, light the end of it & hold it up by the damper to preheat the flue before lighting the fire.
Some good suggestions above. Sounds like a fuel problem to me too, especially if the fire is going out. Go get some of those match lite Presto-logs - or whatever they call them at Wal-Mart and burn them just for a trial. They should be bone dry and should work good. Also, do the lit newspaper up the flue thing to get a draft thing going. If your home is very tight construction, you may even need to open a window or door a few inches for a little while starting the fire.
Edited 11/23/2006 9:05 am ET by Matt