How to Deal With a Draughty Fireplace

As the temperature is dropping outside, many of us are starting to turn to our fires to add a bit of warmth to our homes. Who can blame us? We don’t know a single person who doesn’t appreciate the allure of a roaring fire on a cold day!

electric fireplace

But what if instead of warming your house, your fireplace is letting a cool draught in instead? Some fireplaces can experience a backdraught where air from outside comes in through your chimney and can fill your room with smoke, which isn’t ideal.

As experts in fireplace installation in London, we’ve come across this issue many times before and although it is advised that you contact a fireplace professional, there are a couple of things that you can try to help alleviate the problem.

Check for Obstructions in the Chimney

Believe it or not, obstructions in your chimney stack can cause smoke to build up in your chimney instead of escaping into the air from the opening at the top.

Leaves - iStock_000001108687_Medium

Checking for any debris such as leaves and twigs, especially in chimneys that don’t have the added protection of a chimney cap can often lead you to noticing a build up which may be the cause of your backdraught of smoke into your room.

Check for Leakages

If you have a wood stove, be sure to check the vent pipe for leakages.

If you are experiencing smoke escaping into your room, the joints connecting the pipe may have become loose or damaged.

Cozy modern interior living room with wood burner

If this is the case, then it’s important to leave the repair to a trained professional.

Is There Cold Air in the Flue?

One of the main causes of smoke not being able to ascend up the chimney is that cold air is trapped in the flue of your chimney.

Not only will you have a hard time getting a fire started, but if you did manage to get one going, it would be extremely hard to keep alight.

Warm Fire

However, it is quite an easy issue to fix. All you need to do is create a heat source which can heat the damp air in the flue. This could be a rolled up newspaper that had been set alight and held up into the opening of the flue.

If you are using this method, please be careful when dealing with fire.

Autumn is definitely one of the best seasons of the year, and here at Real Flame, we can’t wait to give more people the opportunity to experience the warming benefits of… well, a real flame!

If you would like more information on any of our fire products before the colder weather hits even harder, don’t delay in getting in contact with us by calling 020 7731 5025 today where will be happy to advise you on the best product for your needs.

Get in Touch with Real Flame for more Advice and Information
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