Homeowners in in the Greater Pittsburgh, PA area including Cranberry, Wexford, Beaver Falls, Uniontown, Belle Vernon, Waynesburg, Greensburg, Washington, Monroeville, Bethel Park, Glenshaw, and the Morgantown, Fairmont and Clarksburg, WV region have relied on the skills and expertise of Advance Chimney Sweeps since 1996. Sometimes, residents in these communities contact us due to a Smoky Fireplace. Our CSIA-certified team members can help diagnose and troubleshoot these types of problems.
What Can Cause A Smoky Fireplace?
Preventative chimney service maintenance along with an annual chimney cleaning can help prevent a smoky fireplace. This is because one of the primary reasons is some kind of obstruction within your flue. This may be as simple as a clogged chimney cap or animal or bird nesting in the flue. It can also be a combination of things, such as a buildup of leaves, dirt, debris, plus the creosote and soot inside the flue.
There are other causes for a smoky chimney too. If you regularly burn wood that hasn’t had a chance to dry out completely, the higher moisture content can lead to an increased amount of smoke.
Other Reasons That Cause A Smoky Fireplace
Unfortunately, there may be larger, more pressing reasons for a smoky fireplace. If your chimney has structural defects or problems, it can create issues with your airflow. Your flue helps to transport smoke and toxic gasses out of your fireplace and to the outside environment. Your smoke chamber directly above the fireplace may be corbelled (stepped) and because of the uneven surface it may impede the flow of smoke up and out of the chimney. This condition is fixed by a process called "parging". If there is a physical problem along these lines, the system cannot work as intended.
Another often overlooked reason for a smoky fireplace: a chimney that is too short. If you recently “raised the roof” on your home by adding another level or extended a one-and-a-half-story house to a full two stories tall, your chimney may now be too short. This is especially true if you modify any of the slopes or angles of your roofline.
Finally, you may have a problem with drafting in your home. Negative air pressure may cause the smoke to back up into your living areas instead of escape via your flue.
The Importance Of A Regular Chimney Sweep
When was the last time you contacted a chimney sweep? If it's been a while, this can be the underlying reason why you have a smoky fireplace. During an inspection, our team will look for the root cause of the problem while also ensuring that your fireplace system is safe to use. Often, we’ll uncover hidden problems, such as cracked flue tiles, leaks, or other issues. We then perform various chimney repairs to help eliminate these situations.
Fixing A Smoky Fireplace
Our fully trained and CSIA-certified technicians can help determine which of these problems is the cause of your smoky chimney. As soon as you encounter the issue, discontinue the use of your fireplace, and contact our team immediately. You can reach us via phone by calling (800) 822-2131 or by sending us a short message here requesting an appointment.
