Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

How to Start a Fire with Less Smoke

Sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold day can be one of life’s simplest pleasures. Even the most idyllic scenes in front of the fireplace can be interrupted by smoke blowing back into the room.

Many homeowners are baffled by what causes excessive smoking in the fireplaces, choosing instead to avoid using their fireplaces altogether or switch to an alternative fuel source. However, there are a number of ways to reduce the amount of smoke starting a fire causes, most of which can be easily implemented the next time you build a fire.

Use seasoned firewood

Using seasoned firewood is one of the easiest ways homeowners can reduce the amount of smoke their fires produce. Fresh cut firewood can have a moisture content of as high as 45%. This water must be evaporated out of the wood before it can burn; fresh cut wood will often make loud popping sounds and smoke excessively. Seasoned firewood, on the other hand, has a moisture content of between 15-20%. The reduced moisture content allows the wood to ignite faster, burn hotter, and produce less smoke.

Build a top down fire

Most people grew up with or were taught the “log cabin” style of creating a fire, which involves stacking the wood with the smallest sticks and kindling at the bottom. While this method does end with a fire, it can be a frustrating process. Large logs shift and fall on the small fire, lots of smoke is produced, and homeowners are forced to tend and stoke the fire often to get it started.

In the top down method, the largest logs should be stacked at the bottom of the firebox with the ends at the front and back. Placing wood this way allows better air circulation through the fire. Next, continue stacking gradually smaller pieces until about half the firebox is filled, topping the stack with wood shavings, small sticks, or other kindling. As the kindling ignites, it will warm the flue and continue to ignite the wood underneath it. This means that homeowners no longer need to stoke or tend the fire and there is less smoke produced.

Open the damper

While this may seem obvious, some homeowners do not open the damper when they are trying to start a fire, falsely believing downdrafts from the chimney will extinguish their fledgling fire. Instead, keep the damper open the entire time your fireplace is in use, including while staring the fire and while waiting for it to completely extinguish. Closing the damper at any time may cause smoke to backup into the room.

Avoid fires on windy days

On an extremely windy day, there is often little you can do to avoid smoke blowing back into the room. If you can hear the wind “whistling” in or rattling the chimney, even the best technique may not prevent a smoky fire.

Call a chimney sweep

If you’ve tried the above techniques and are still having issues with smoky fires, you may need the assistance of a certified chimney sweep. At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, our highly trained expert staff can help identify the cause of your smoking issues and get you back to enjoying your fireplace again!

What’s Involved With Relining a Chimney?

Although most homeowners realize that their fireplaces and chimneys will need preventative maintenance as they age, many are shocked when they are told their chimney needs to be relined. Understanding why chimney liners are so important helps many people deal with the potential time and costs associated with chimney relining.

Below is information that homeowners should know about what’s involved with the chimney relining process.

What is chimney relining?

A chimney liner is defined as “A clay, ceramic, or metal conduit installed inside of a chimney, intended to contain the combustion products, direct them to the outside atmosphere, and protect the chimney walls from heat and corrosion.” However, over time these liners may become cracked or damaged. This poses a significant safety risk as a damaged chimney liner can no longer protect the surrounding materials from heat transfer from fire. Likewise, some older homes may be missing a chimney liner altogether.

Chimneys may also need to be relined if the fuel source or size of the chimney has changed, such as installing an insert, switching from wood to gas, or replacing an existing unit with a smaller one. In these cases, the chimney should be relined to prevent drafting issues.

How are chimney liner issues identified?

Oftentimes, chimney liner issues are discovered during normal chimney inspections. For a more detailed inspection of the condition of your chimney liner, a Chim-Scan inspection may be recommended. During this inspection, a small camera will be inserted into the chimney, allowing technicians to evaluate the condition of the entirety of the chimney liner. These video scans often reveal cracked joints or crumbling parts of the liner that would otherwise not be seen.

Types of chimney liners

There are three main types of chimney liners. The type of liner your home already has along with the level of damage it has sustained may impact which kind of chimney liner your flue needs.

• Clay tile liners: Clay tile liners have traditionally been the least expensive and most popular option for chimney liners. While clay tile liners are built to last, they can deteriorate over time, especially at the mortar joints. Replacing a clay tile lined chimney is extremely labor intensive and often involves removing portions of the chimney walls. However, damaged mortar joints may be able to be repaired without replacing the entire liner using HeatShield® products.
• Cast in place liners: Cast in place chimney liners are created when cement is poured into the flue. Relining a clay tile lining with a cast in place lining may help stabilize damaged clay tiles. The installation of a cast in place liner is less intrusive than a clay tile liner, but the difficultly of the installation may be complicated by other conditions.
• Metal flue liners: Metal flue liners are often the most highly recommended type of chimney liner, with stainless steel liners being the most preferred option. Although the cost of a metal flue liner may be higher than a clay or cast in place liner, they are designed to last longer and withstand heat better than the other types of liners.If you have questions about having your chimney relined, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today. Our expert staff can help you decide what relining option best meets your budget and chimney needs, allowing you to safely enjoy your fireplace for years to come.

If you have questions about having your chimney relined, contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today. Our expert staff can help you decide what relining option best meets your budget and chimney needs, allowing you to safely enjoy your fireplace for years to come.