We’ve all been there before: you’re trying to light a fire in your fireplace, but your chimney just won’t draw. This leads to smoke flooding the room, and you desperately trying to figure out what you can do to fix it. The good news is that there is always a fix for this problem. If you’re wondering why your chimney won’t draw, here are some solutions you should try out.
If your chimney won’t draw, here are some potential solutions to try.
Open the Glass Doors!
Are you someone who habitually leaves your fireplace doors shut? There’s nothing wrong with this habit, but keep in mind that you might want to open up those doors an hour or two before you light the fire. This is to let the fireplace warm up closer to the temperature of the room. When your fireplace is significantly colder than the ambient room temperature, it won’t draft as well as it could.
Check the Damper
By the same token, you should make sure that the damper is opened before you light the fire. If your damper isn’t open at all, you’ll know. Your chimney won’t draw at all, and the room will be smokier than you can imagine.
We’re sure you already know to open the damper before lighting a fire, but it doesn’t hurt to verify that it’s open all the way. Even a partially closed damper can impede your chimney’s draft significantly.
Prime the Chimney
If you’re a proud fireplace owner yourself, you need to know how to prime a chimney. If the damper is completely open and the fireplace is too cold, try this trick: grab a sheet or two of newspaper and light the end. Then, lift the burning newspaper up to the flue. You will probably feel cold air pouring down onto your hands.
You should only have to do this for a few seconds before you notice a marked improvement in the chimney’s draft.
Schedule a Chimney Inspection
If the above solutions we’ve shared don’t work, then you most likely need to schedule a chimney cleaning. Don’t try to light another fire until you’ve done so. At this stage, the creosote on the inside of the chimney may have built up to extreme amounts. Alternatively, there may be plant or animal debris blocking the top due to a faulty chimney cap.
If you hire the professionals at Champion Chimneys to inspect your chimney, we will get to the bottom of why your chimney won’t draw with unrivaled proficiency and professionalism.
Call the Experts at Champion Chimneys for Chimney Inspections Today!
Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has served customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving fully equipped trucks. We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.