Dooger 1 post 23-Oct-2007 6:03 AM

Sometimes when I have a fire in my upstairs fireplace the smoke gets downstairs. You can't see the smoke, but it's enough to lightly burn your eyes. In the upstairs it's a traditional fireplace, downstairs there's a fireplace with an insert with a blower. On the roof I had a 2' extension fabricated from Stainless hoping that this would help this problem (I had this same problem last winter.) I have had the upstairs fire lit 4 times this year, and everything was fine until yesterday. Any suggestions? Last Edited on 23-Oct-2007 11:47 AM

Fireplace Expert 10 post s 8-Dec-2007 5:34 AM

This is a very common problem especially when you have a metal chimney or you get a sudden change in the temperature outside. It sounds like you are more than likely having a down-draft problem. Before you light the stove, take a piece of newspaper, roll it up long ways very tightly, light one end and insert it in the stove directing the flame as close to the flue outlet as possible. Initially you may get some smoke back into the room, but as the heat from the flame rises, it should reverse the down-draft to an up-draft and cure the problem. If this does not cure the problem, then it is most likely an obstruction in the chimney, such as a bird's nest.

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