Tips on Warming a Fireplace Flue
- Ensure Damper Is Open The Number 1 tip of warming a flue is ensuring the damper, the access point to the flue, is open. ...
- Newspaper Torch Using a newspaper "torch" is an effective way to warm the flue. ...
- Warm With Lighter A lighter can also warm a fireplace flue in lieu of a newspaper torch. ...
- Build the Fire First ...
How do you warm up a chimney flue?
Smoke rises where it meets the least resistance. Warming the flue warms the chimney air, so the smoke will not meet resistance as it rises in the chimney. The Number 1 tip of warming a flue is ensuring the damper, the access point to the flue, is open.
How do I increase the airflow in my Chimney?
Check the damper in your fireplace to make sure that it’s wide open to allow for maximum draw of air up the chimney, which in turn will increase the airflow to the fire. A damper is usually shut between fires to prevent the loss of warm air from your home.
How do you light a chimney without a match?
Use a flashlight to observe both the open and closed positions to double check that the damper is open before proceeding. Using a newspaper "torch" is an effective way to warm the flue. The torch not only lasts longer than a match, but can then be used to light the fire. Roll several sheets of paper lengthwise and twist one end closed.
How can I increase the heat output of my wood burning fireplace?
Ventilation from the outside of your home through a vent or window can help prevent the warm air in your home being sucked out through the chimney, instead of fresh air from the outside. In order to improve the heat output of your wood burning fireplace, you’ll need to get the fire off to a good start.
How do you warm up a cold chimney?
The most common way to warm your flue is by holding lit cardboard or pieces of paper inside your firebox, directly under the flue until the draft reverses to flow properly up and out of the chimney.
How do you deal with a cold chimney?
Rolling a newspaper up into a cone, lighting, and placing close to the damper will provide enough warmth to prime the chimney and stop cold air from smothering your fire. This technique works regardless if you have an open hearth fireplace, wood insert, wood stove, or wood fireplace.
How do I preheat the air in my chimney?
Warming up the Flue Make sure the damper is open and roll up a newspaper and light one end to make a torch. Hold it up in the chimney to warm up the air and make it rise. Another method is to switch on a blow dryer and move it around inside the chimney.
How do I keep my chimney warm?
Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warm air back into the room. Check the seals around your fireplace flue damper—if the seals aren't tight, you could be losing home heating through the chimney. Insulate your chimney.
Why is cold air coming down my chimney?
If your damper is warped, rusted or otherwise damaged, cold air in the upper flue is going to get past it. Along with the common throat damper located just above the firebox, some homeowners add a top-sealing damper at the top of the chimney to double their protection.
How do you insulate an old chimney?
Insulating chimneys from the outside: Cover the entire stack of bricks with a layer of rigid insulation (rockwool or expanded polystyrene) and half inch-thick plywood, which can then be covered to match the rest of the house.
How long does a chimney take to warm up?
Allow Coals to Burn Let the charcoal chimney get your coals ready for about 15 to 20 minutes. Check regularly to make sure you see a little smoke.
Do you need to preheat a chimney?
Many homeowners ask chimney technicians like us, why is preheating the flue so important. When there is a fire in your fireplace, cooler air from your home fuels the fire, the air above it gets hotter. The chimney flue provides allows the hot air to rise out of the house along with the smoke and other fire byproducts.
How do you prepare a chimney for fire?
Remove all ashes from your fireplace or wood-burning stove....Brush up on your fire-building technique.Aim for a smaller fire, which will make less smoke, and thus less creosote buildup. ... You should place logs at the rear of the fireplace on a metal grate and use kindling, rather than flammable liquids, to start the fire.More items...•
Do chimneys make houses cold?
The single biggest source of heat loss in the home is an open chimney. It's like leaving a window open all the time, except that the passage of warm air out is exacerbated by a phenomenon known as the stack effect.
Does a fireplace actually heat a room?
Can a Fireplace Really Heat Your Home? Absolutely! And many houses already have a fireplace. It's just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home.
Why does my open fire not heat the room?
Summary. Wood burning fireplaces are a very inefficient source of heat for a home. An open fireplace won't typically be able to heat a room by a noticeable amount because much of the heat can be lost up the chimney.
How do you fix a downdraft chimney?
Adjust the Damper You can oftentimes fix and prevent downdrafts by adjusting the damper. For a fireplace to function properly, the damper must be at least partially open at all times. If it's fully closed, smoke and hot air will accumulate inside your home rather than venting out through the flue and chimney.
Do chimneys make houses cold?
The single biggest source of heat loss in the home is an open chimney. It's like leaving a window open all the time, except that the passage of warm air out is exacerbated by a phenomenon known as the stack effect.
How do you stop downdraft in flue?
How to Prevent Chimney DowndraftShut Off Exhaust Fans: When your fireplace is in use, turn off your exhaust fans, as they naturally increase negative pressure by pulling air out of the house.Adjust Your Damper: If your damper is warped, you might need to adjust it slightly to get the right airflow.More items...•
What is the best chimney Draught excluder?
When it comes to draught-proofing chimneys, you can't get better than a Chimney Sheep® chimney draught excluder. As the best chimney draught excluder on the market and the only one with industry reassurance via the BBA , a Chimney Sheep® chimney draught stopper will ensure your home is kept draught-free.
How often should I clean my chimney?
We should clean our chimney every year. Chimneys can be dirty for many reasons, like burning leaves or trash in the fireplace. This will block the...
How often should I check my chimney?
If everything looks good, light some paper at theWhen you live in a home with a fireplace, it is important to make sure your flue is always well ma...
How do I check my chimney?
To ensure there are no blockages or cracks in the chimney, look up into the top opening when using your fireplace and listen for any base of the fi...
Can a candle be used to warm up the flue?
Using a candle to warm up the flue is not recommended as you cannot see any issues that may be occurring. Also, fire can become difficult if there...
How do I use my fireplace?
Use your fireplace by lighting paper at the base of your fireplace so flames begin emitting through your venting system above. Then you will want t...
How often should I check my chimney?
If everything looks good, light some paper at the base of your fireplace so flames begin emitting through your venting system above. Then you will...
Can a candle be used to warm up the flue?
Using a candle to warm up the flue is not recommended as you cannot see any issues that may be occurring. Also, fire can become difficult if there...
How do I check my chimney?
To ensure there are no blockages or cracks in the chimney, look up into the top opening when using your fireplace and listen for any base of the fi...
Do I need to clean the inside of my chimney?
If you have a wood stove, it's important to keep the chimney flue clean. In addition, check your damper for proper operation as well as any cracks...
Should I have my chimney cleaned before using it for wood heat?
Yes! Having your chimney cleaned before using it for wood heat is important. If you don’t, the creosote can build up and eventually catch fire when...
Why Warm Up A Chimney?
A fireplace has direct access to the outside atmosphere, and so while a fireplace isn’t in use the temperature of the air within the chimney can be as cold as the outside air.
Why do you warm up the chimney flue before starting a fire?
By warming up the chimney flue prior to starting a fire, you can help to ensure that there’s enough draw on the fireplace that will help to get a fire going as quickly as possible once it’s been lit.
Why do you close a fireplace damper?
Closing a fireplace damper can prevent heat loss from a home when the fireplace isn’t in use, but can also lead to cold air being trapped within the chimney. Glass doors on a fireplace can also trap cold air within a fireplace and chimney.
What does it mean when a newspaper smokes up a chimney?
If you can see the smoke from the newspaper rising up the chimney then it’s a sign that the draft has started and you shouldn’t have any major problems with draw on your fireplace when lighting a fire.
Why does my fireplace keep going out?
Cold air trapped within a chimney can lead to a fire in an open fireplace that keeps going out as a result of poor draft.
How to warm flue?
To help warm the flue and start the draft, you’ll need to build a fire in a particular way by using what’s known as the top-down fire method.
When to use top down fire?
The top-down method can be used in conjunction with warming the chimney before starting a fire, or can be used on it’s own . As each fireplace is different you’ll need to see whether building and lighting a top-down fire is sufficient enough to start the draft.
Why is it important to move the air upward and out of the chimney?
It can also help in the proper use of fuel. When someone uses a fireplace, it is essential that the heated air move upward and out of the chimney.
How to test air flow in chimney?
Strike a match or use a lighter to test the air flow in the chimney. The flame should look like it is moving upwards. Otherwise, smoke from the fire could go back into the home.
What is the phone number to call for chimney inspection?
We have two CSIA Certified chimney sweeps standing by to assist you with your chimney needs. Give us a call at 610-626-2439 to schedule an appointment for a chimney inspection or cleaning.
What is the purpose of a chimney and fireplace?
The chimney and fireplace can also benefit from other steps, and one of these is the preheating of the flue. It might not seem like an important step, but it can help the chimney to operate more efficiently. It can also help in the proper use of fuel. ...
How to get a fire going quickly?
Make sure that there is enough air in the room to get the fire going quickly by opening a nearby window slightly. Build an efficient fire with seasoned wood and put the logs toward the back of the firebox. If you notice any decline in the performance of the flue or chimney, call a technician right away.
Can you heat a fireplace flue?
If it has been a few hours since the last fire in the fireplace, the flue will be cold. Cold air can also obstruct the movement of heated air and gases away from the fire and up through the chimney. Preheating the flue is not a difficult task, but there are a few things you should get out of the way first, which include:
How to increase draft in chimney?
There are several ways to increase the draft or air pressure in your chimney. One way is to burn hotter to create more draft. Different firewoods burn at different temperatures. For example, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, and Yellow Birch burn hotter than Aspen, Hemlock and Red Cedar. Another method is to extend the height of the chimney. The standard height of a chimney is 15 feet from the base to the top. Taller chimneys create more draft.
Why do you need a damper to light a fire?
When you strike a match to light the fire, the oxygen inside the fireplace will cause the wood logs to combust. Without enough oxygen in the fireplace, there is no fire. So, if you’re having trouble getting the fire started, you probably don’t have sufficient draft flow. That’s why your damper must be open to light the fire and keep it going.
How to warm a fireplace flue?
The long neck varieties used to light barbecues work especially well because your fingers are kept away from the flame. Stick your arm up into the fireplace near the damper and strike the lighter. Move the flame around the damper for several minutes. This method can take longer than the newspaper torch because the flame is smaller, but it is a good option if you don't have newspaper available.
How to warm a flue?
Using a newspaper "torch" is an effective way to warm the flue. The torch not only lasts longer than a match, but can then be used to light the fire. Roll several sheets of paper lengthwise and twist one end closed. This keeps the smoke from traveling through the newspaper tube and into your face. Light the other end of the torch and hold it inside the fireplace. Move it slowly around the walls and let the flame touch the damper grate. When the flue is properly warmed, the smoke from the torch will travel straight up the chimney.
What happens when you warm a flue before lighting a fire?
Warming a flue before lighting a fire directs smoke up the chimney, not into the room.
Can you light a flue before warming it?
Your job isn' t over once the flue is properly warmed; you still need to light the fire. It's helpful to build the fire before warming the flue. Then you can light the kindling immediately and get the fire going, so the flue doesn't have time to cool off first. Plus, you can use the newspaper torch or lighter to ignite the fire.
What is a fireback?
A fireback helps reflect heat off the back and sides of your fireplace and out into your room. This heat would have otherwise been lost into your firebox surround or up the chimney.
Why do you burn hardwoods?
Burn hardwoods to get the most heat over the course of the fire. Burn softwoods to get hotter but shorter lasting flames. Hardwoods are denser than softwoods and so burn slower than softwoods, meaning that you’ll use less wood over the course of the fire and get more heat out of every piece used.
How to keep a fireplace going longer?
Placing larger pieces of wood in your fireplace more closely and densely together will keep the fire going for a longer period of time between each refill, and will provide the most heat output per piece of wood. Don’t wait until the fire is smoldering to add further logs to the fireplace.
How to warm up a chimney before adding more wood?
Be sure not too leave too big of a gap otherwise the heat won’t transfer between the wood and the fire will burn more slowly. Leave the fire to get going, allowing the chimney to warm up before adding any more wood. As the fire and coals start to warm up you can start add logs that are bigger in size.
Why is ash important in a fire?
The ash will help insulate the new bed of hot coals in the next fire and help to improve its heat output. A layer of ash will help with the combustion of the wood, and you may find it more difficult to get a fire really going if all of the ashes have been cleaned out.
How to maximize airflow in a fireplace?
Periodically cleaning and maintaining your fireplace will help to maximize airflow, while also providing a bed of ash to help improve the heat output from your next fire.
How to get more heat out of a wood burning fireplace?
In order to improve the heat output of your wood burning fireplace, you’ll need to get the fire off to a good start. This involves setting up the fireplace properly to maximize how quickly the fire catches on.
Why do you need a damper for a fireplace?
Opening these dampers before creating a fire within the fireplace allows for heat and smoke to exhaust up the chimney flue. Designing fireplaces with these dampers directly above open flame, therefore requires the damper to be able to withstand high temperatures.
What to do if damper does not have a tight seal?
if the damper does not have a tight seal, return to the firebox and re-position the brass lug upward to get a tighter seal
Where to mount brackets on firebox?
mount the bracket near the front of the firebox about 20 inches above the firebox floor
Does a chimney exhaust heat?
Chimneys naturally exhaust air in an upward movement from the fireplace to the outdoors. This air draft exhausts heat and smoke while you are using your fireplace. Unfortunately, conditioned air from the home continues to escape up the chimney to the outdoors while the fireplace is not in use. This is extremely inefficient ...
Do you need to dry flue liner before installing top sealing damper?
the flue liner must be dry before installation of the top sealing damper
