Solving Drafting Issues
You may have had problems trying to get a fire started, or you may have had issues with smoke filling the room after lighting a fire. Both of these problems have to do with your chimney draft. Not only can these issues be annoying, but they can also be unsafe. At All American Chimney Service, we place a high priority on being sure your fireplace and chimney system work both efficiently and safely. In our many years of experience in working on chimneys in the Louisville area, we know what causes chimney draft problems and how to solve them. We would like to tell you about a couple of ways we can solve your drafting issues.
Incorrectly sized flue
In order for your chimney to draft correctly, the flue needs to be the correct size for your heatingappliance. If you have updated your old masonry fireplace with a new fireplace insert, the flue is most likely too large for the insert. When the flue is larger than it should be, it can take longer than normal for the byproducts of combustion to exit out of the chimney. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the combustion gases have more time to cool and condense inside the chimney, and this leads to corrosion of the masonry materials of the chimney as well as to the possibility of the overproduction of carbon monoxide, which can leak back into your home. This is why it is so important to have a professional chimney company like All American Chimney Service install your new fireplace insert. We will also install a new stainless steel liner to create a correctly sized flue for the appliance.
Downdrafts
Sometimes, the wind can cause chimney draft problems. If the wind hits your chimney in a certain way, it can cause downdrafts that will push the exhaust gases back down the chimney. You will also find it difficult to start a fire when downdrafts are affecting your chimney. To keep these downdrafts from occurring, All American Chimney Service recommends installing a draft-improving chimney cap that is equipped with vents on the sides that will direct the wind to pull out the exhaust gases. These chimney caps will increase air flow up the chimney to make the draft work as it should.
Keep chimney draft problems from affecting your chimney.ContactAll American Chimney Service today to learn more about how we can solve your chimney drafting issues.