The most common fireplace problems include creosote buildup, critter invasions, obstructions, closed dampers, poor-quality firewood, improperly sized chimney, and damaged fireboxes.
Keep reading to learn more.
Any time you use your fireplace, the smoke from combustion goes up into the chimney. The smoke, when it cools and condenses, turns into a byproduct known as creosote. This creosote is hard and resembles tar. It’s typically black or a dark brown. If you haven’t recently had a chimney cleaning, it’s also likely in your chimney.
The primary concern of creosote is that it’s a massive fire hazard. Creosote can ignite from heat, leading to damage or even chimney fires.
However, creosote also impacts your fireplace’s function, too. As creosote builds in your chimney, it restricts more and more air flow. Smoke that should be exhausted from your fireplace could instead come back down into your home.
The best-case scenario is that the interrupted airflow diminishes your fire, restricting combustion and leading to even more buildup and poor fires. The worst cases, however, could be puff-backs or even carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Do you hear chirping, scratching, or other noises coming from your fireplace or chimney? Chances are, you have a critter that decided your chimney was its new home. Whether it’s a chimney swift or something a bit more dangerous, animals in your chimney can be a serious issue.
Nesting creatures can stack obstructions on top of your chimney, creating risks of CO poisoning. Even if they’re not nesting, a raccoon or another animal’s body alone can block your chimney from exhausting fumes.
At Doctor Flue, we always tell our clients that the best way to keep your chimney critter-free is to install a quality chimney cap. These are necessary to prevent anything from getting inside your chimney.
Birds and rodents aren’t the only things that can clog a chimney and stop your fireplace from functioning correctly. If you live in an area with heavy tree coverage, you’ll have leaves or falling branches land near your chimney on a regular basis. During our years of experience servicing chimneys, we’ve even seen garbage like plastic bags wrapped around chimneys,
Even with a chimney cap, random debris can get trapped around the cap. This is just as dangerous as debris falling into your chimney, and one reason why regular inspections are necessary. You can’t always get the full view of your chimney cap from ground level!
Dampers are an important part of fireplaces. They help you keep heat in your home when the fireplace isn’t in use.
Do you see a chain or pull-down in your fireplace? That’s how you operate it.
As CSIA-certified technicians, we highly recommend keeping your damper open whenever you have a fire in your fireplace. Until the last ember completely fades away, your damper should be fully open.
If not, smoke won’t have anywhere to go except back into your home. While it’s no puff-back, it could be a huge mess or even put your health at risk. Surprisingly, we’ve seen many homes where the owner thinks their fireplace’s airflow is obstructed, only to find out that they didn’t know about their damper.
In some cases, the damper can be stuck due to debris or hardened soot. This will be easily identified during a standard chimney inspection, and your chimney sweep will be able to clean it easily.
If you light a fire in your fireplace and it doesn’t seem like the fire is burning properly, it could be your firewood. The best firewood is seasoned.
Fresh wood will still have a lot of moisture inside, preventing complete combustion. The more inefficient the combustion, the weaker the fire. Low-burning fires offer little in the way of heat and actually produce more smoke. In addition, you’ll also find that green firewood leads to faster build-ups of creosote.
Store your firewood and only burn seasoned wood. It’s easy to store wood properly with just a tarp and some space outside.
It’s also worth mentioning – never burn anything that isn’t firewood. Burning trash or even construction wood can fill your home with chemical-laden smoke, damaging your house and your health.
An improperly sized chimney can lead to fireplace draft issues. This problem usually arises when a new fireplace is installed and the liner is not properly sized for it.
In addition to that, creosote can usually build up a lot quicker in chimneys that are too short, and as we already know, creosote buildups can lead to chimney fires, posing a risk to your home.
To fix this problem, you need to adjust the size of your chimney according to the size of your fireplace.
A firebox is the part that is inside your fireplace. Fireboxes are built using firebricks – a type of brick that is resistant to fire. The problem is that moisture, poor construction, or even age can damage these bricks, and therefore, the firebox.
If you notice any signs of wear or cracks in your firebox, it is recommended to call a professional as soon as possible to repair it, as the damages will only become more prominent over time. Cracks or loose mortar joints in your firebox can pose a risk to your home because heat and harmful chemicals can escape through them, increasing the risk of a fire or exposure to CO.
In addition to some of the most common fireplace problems, gas fireplaces sometimes have unique reasons why they aren’t working quite right. However, unlike wood-burning fireplaces, it can be more difficult for a homeowner to identify and fix without the help of a professional.
Here are some problems we regularly see while working with gas fireplaces.
Gas fireplaces use a pilot light just like most other gas appliances. If your fireplace refuses to turn on, the pilot light is often the culprit. Fortunately, it’s easy to check! Simply open the vent and see if you can spot a small flame. If you can’t, the pilot light needs to be lit again.
Follow the instructions to relight your pilot light carefully. You always want to be careful working with gas appliances. If you aren’t sure how to properly relight it, contact the manufacturer or a professional technician like Doctor Flue.
Another key component of your gas fireplace is the thermocouple. These special metal rods generate electricity from heat and act as a sensor to make sure gas only runs when a fire is lit.
Older thermocouples or those that may have been installed improperly can sometimes fail to function correctly. You’ll often notice this if the gas fireplace ignites correctly but shuts off. If you have to relight the pilot light, but then it goes out quickly, it’s likely the thermocouple.
Newer fireplaces often use a thermopile instead. In many ways, they operate similarly to a thermocouple. If your fireplace is a newer model and you notice these issues, check the thermopile or contact a professional to check it for you!
Visit our blog post on gas fireplace problems to learn more.
Regular maintenance and attention to your fireplace can go a long way in preventing costly repairs and ensuring your home remains safe and warm. Here are some tips for preventing fireplace problems:
While you can spot some issues on your own, a certified chimney sweep, such as one certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), has the tools and experience to conduct a thorough inspection.
For your peace of mind and safety, we insist that you use a professional service such as Doctor Flue.
Learn more about common fireplace problems.
If your fireplace isn’t venting smoke as it should, the most likely cause is a blockage in the chimney, often from debris such as leaves or nesting materials. Another common issue is a closed damper, which can prevent smoke from escaping. If you’re unable to locate or resolve the issue yourself, it’s best to contact a professional for a thorough inspection.
The cost of repairing a fireplace can vary widely depending on the extent of the damage and the rates charged by your service provider. Simple repairs may be relatively affordable, while more complex structural issues can be more costly.
Neglecting fireplace maintenance can lead to serious hazards, including house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. These issues can also result in expensive repairs that could have been avoided with regular care and inspection.
At Doctor Flue, Inc.®, we’ve been serving homeowners across Michigan and Ohio since 1986 with professional chimney and fireplace services. Our team is fully CSIA-certified, bringing decades of experience and technical expertise to every inspection and maintenance visit. We can help you identify and resolve any fireplace issues before they become serious problems. Contact us today!
Call Us: 1-800-438-3583
Email Us: office@drflue.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm
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