Why does smoke come into my house from the fireplace?

Why does smoke come into my house from the fireplace?

Occasional puffs of smoke that enter the room from beneath the chimney breast are usually caused by downdrafts, or air rushing down the chimney in spite of the upward air flow caused by fireplace heat. Downdrafts often occur in windy weather. If the problem is infrequent, it is usually not worth taking the time to fix.

Should smoke come out of chimney?

A modern chimney should produce little smoke when the heating system runs smoothly. White smoke coming from your chimney isn’t necessarily a bad sign. Depending on the heating equipment installed in your home, wispy white smoke could be a normal byproduct of operation.

How do you check Backdraft?

A quick check for backdrafting at the draft hood can be done with a match test. In a properly operating combustion appliance, the flame and smoke from a match held near the opening of the draft hood should be drawn into the hood. Remember that combustion appli ances may take up to one minute to establish a draft.

Which condition can cause Backdrafting?

Backdrafting begins when “the pressure differential that allows for release of combustion gases is overcome by low indoor air pressure, caused by a high rate of expulsion of air pushed outdoors, through exhaust fans, fireplaces and dryers, ” says Gromicko.

How do you test a backdraft water heater?

If you can see condensation at the top of a water heater tank, you’re basically watching the water heater backdraft. The photo below shows moisture, rust, and melted plastic at the top of the water heater. Click the photo to see a large version, showing this water heater backdrafting like crazy.

How do I know if my furnace is Backdrafting?

Another clue, Portteus continues, is rust on the grillwork on the front of your furnace. If moist fumes are backdrafting, the moisture will rust your metal there. And, in many, but not necessarily all, cases, your house will develop a characteristic sour smell, especially noticeable when you first enter the house.

How do I stop my furnace Backdraft?

6 tips to stop dangerous backdrafting air in your home

1. What Is Backdrafting?
2. Get the Story Straight on CO Detectors.
3. Install Your Gas Water Heater Properly.
4. Don’t Seal Your Home Too Tight.
5. Properly Configure Your Flues.
6. Properly Vent Your High-Efficiency Furnace.
7. Beware the Orphaned Water Heater.
8. Use Exhaust Fans.

Can a high-efficiency furnace Backdraft?

High-efficiency or 90+% combustion furnaces and boilers do not vent flue gases through a standard chimney. Since there is a fan pushing the combustion gases out of the building, there is no chance that these appliances will backdraft.

How do you fix a backdraft?

When you first light a wood fire, it might not create enough heat to start an updraft immediately, allowing a backdraft to occur. You can remedy this problem by using newspaper or extra kindling to create a hotter blaze as the fire first ignites.

Do bathroom vents let cold air in?

The Bathroom fan is letting in cold air because the backdraft damper is missing or leaking. As a result, outdoor air is being drafted back into the bathroom instead of being sealed off by the damper. In order to create a proper seal, a spring-loaded rubber-sealed backdraft damper should be used.

What is a damper flap?

A damper flap is what sits inside the fireplace, on top of the insert, and it stops drafts coming down the chimney (stick your head in, look up, and imagine a sheet of metal blocking the chminey).