The Case for Smoke Chamber Parging

Often you hear about relining the flue and repairing the firebox, but you don’t necessarily hear about the space between these two areas. The smoke chamber is an upside down funnel where the smoke and hot gases gather before they are drawn up the flue and out the chimney. If this area is damaged in any way, it could potentially keep the gases in the chamber, allowing them to come back into the home.

Parging a smoke chamber is the process of sealing the inside surfaces with a layer of mortar in order to close off any cracks or gaps to ensure that the only escape route is up the flue. It is important that the eight-inch layer of mortar be smooth so that nothing blocks the path.

A chimney technician will check to be sure that the lower flue tile is sealed correctly to the smoke chamber. Oftentimes this is missed, allowing gasses and carbon dioxide to pass through the tile and into the home. Because this is such a critical area of the chimney, the materials used when parging have been tested and designed specifically for smoke chamber deficiencies. Considered an insulating mortar with the ability to stick to vertical and inverted surfaces with ease, the materials add structural strength while reducing conduction to combustible materials, keeping the fireplace from smoking up your home.

If you’ve been experiencing smoke in your home, this could be the culprit. Call us at 502-435-2364 or request an appointment online.