Reducing Fireplace Smoke to Ease Spring Allergies
Is smoke from your fireplace firing up your spring allergies? You aren’t alone. Many people with upper-respiratory allergies and conditions see their symptoms worsen when they’re around fireplace smoke. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to lessen or eliminate this problem.
The Chimney Guys of Pataskala, OH, would like to share a few proven tips for reducing the amount of smoke your fireplace creates and keeping smoke out of your home.
Important note: Our advice here isn’t medical advice. Only your physician or allergist can recommend the correct allergy treatments.
How fireplace smoke ends up in your home
A perfectly operating fireplace and chimney will create minimal smoke, with very little of it moving into the air of your home. But not all fireplaces and chimneys operate perfectly. Here are some things to consider:
The firewood you burn
The wood you burn in your fireplace should be seasoned, meaning it has had at least 6 months to dry out after harvesting. Damp, fresh wood produces a lot of smoke, often more than your chimney system can handle at once.
Non-firewood items
Never burn plastic containers, cardboard, magazines, clothing, or any other non-firewood item in your fireplace. These materials tend to be very smoky.
Check your fireplace damper
The damper above your firebox should be able to open fully when getting fires started. This is usually when the most smoke is produced. If the damper is rusted or damaged, it may only open partially, preventing all the smoke from rising through it.
Is your chimney sized correctly?
If you’ve had smoke issues since you’ve been using the fireplace, the problem could be due to the chimney’s size. Flue diameter and chimney height both play a role in efficient drafting, and if your sizes are incorrect, it could cause excess smoke that’s affecting your allergies.
What’s inside your flue?
If your flue is the correct size but filled with obstructions, smoke will likely back up into your room. The most common flue obstructions are:
- Built up creosote, which forms when smoke condenses in the chimney
- Leaves, twigs, and other tree debris
- Nests made by small animals
- The occasional dead animal that dies in the chimney, unable to escape
Remove all this junk by having your chimney professionally cleaned. Prevent the intrusion of outside debris and animals with a proper chimney cap or flue cover.
Is the top of your chimney blocked?
Chimney caps have mesh sides that can attract debris. If the mesh becomes clogged, it will slow down the draft and could be the cause of smoke moving into your home.
Solving your chimney and fireplace smoke problems
Burning only dry firewood and nothing else will reduce the amount of smoke created during your fires. To solve chimney drafting issues, you need a licensed chimney inspector to help you determine exactly why the problem is happening.
The Chimney Guys offers complete chimney inspections, chimney sweeping, chimney repairs, and chimney rebuilding. We’ll find out why there’s smoke in your house and get to work solving the problem, and give your allergies a little rest.
Reach us by phone in the greater Columbus, OH, area to learn more. You can also get in touch through our contact form.
