6 Reasons Smoke Backs Up in the Chimney

Smoke backs up in the chimney is more common in the Chicagoland area than you think! It can be a serious issue and should be tended to right away. When smoke backs up into your home, it indicates that the chimney is not drafting properly. This problem can be caused by a variety of factors. Let’s take a closer look to understand what the issues are when smoke backs up.

How Do You Know if Smoke Backs Up in the Chimney?

There are some tell-tale signs when smoke backs up in the chimney. Here are a few to watch for:

• Smoke comes into the home where the fireplace is located
• A smoky smell or if you have a wood burning fireplace, you may be smelling the creosote
• A black residue around the vent or damper
• Difficult to start a fire in the firebox
• Your eyes may be irritated, or clearing your throat
• Your carbon monoxide alarm sounds off

Now that you know the signs, what causes the smoke to back up in the chimney?

Why Does Smoke Back Up in the Chimney?

You may be wondering why smoke backs up in the chimney. Here are a few of the most common reasons it can occurs in your home.

1. Creosote Build Up: The material that builds up over time, when burning wood in the fireplace, is called creosote. When the chimney isn’t cleaned, the creosote builds up over time and has a smoky, sweet smell. It may seem like a nice smell, but it’s not.
2. Animal and Critter Nests: It’s cold outside! If you’re sitting in the house nice and warm, so would the animals and critters like a warm spot to sleep. They just found the spot in your chimney! Not a great spot if you want to use your fireplace.
3. Flue Tiles: If you have an older home, there’s a chance you don’t have a chimney liner or chimney flue. Those tiles will eventually fall down and can cause an obstruction in the chimney. It’s best to get this removed and replaced with the chimney flue.
4. Cold Air: Cold air can act like a heavy sack, blocking smoke from leaving your home. This can cause smoke to enter your home, especially when you light a fire in the fireplace.
5. Downdraft: Strong winds can cause a downdraft in the chimney causing the smelly smoke to go into your home.
6. Too Tight! We’ve heard over the years about the building envelope. This means what are the ways to keep the home heat or cold in. However, if too tight, then the house cannot breathe and the smoke will have no place to go but in.

What Can Be Done Next? If you can relate to any of the above 6 reasons why smoke builds up in the chimney, give Superior Chimney a call at 877-244-6349. We’ll send out a certified chimney technician to inspect your chimney. We’ll take pictures of the findings and show them to you. We’ll take care of the issue to keep your home healthy.

This post first appeared on https://www.superiorchimney.net