Smoking Chimney Problem

sas

We've had a problem with the chimney in our house since we moved into it. Basically we sometimes get alot of smoke coming into the room and even if we don't visibly see smoke coming from the fire we can smell the fumes in the room.

The chimney is about 1 foot below the peak of the roof so I know thats not correct. However, 20 other houses on our ring are the same and none of them I've spoken to have the same problem. Tried an anti downdraft cowl with some success but the problem was far from solved.

Tried one of the electric cowls ( having been assured it would work ) at the weekend and it didn't work either. It created an annoying background noise in the room too. Now the chimney is damaged because to fit the electric cowl the top chimney liner had to be removed until it is flush with the chimney cap.

There is a turn in the chimney about a foot below the first floor level. Its severe enough that a chimney cleaner I had in could get not the rods past it either from above or below.
I have been told that this is perfectly acceptable though.

What I'm looking for now is anyone elses experiences with such problems. I'm not sure what my alternatives. It had been suggested that I get a gas fire but I'd imagine all that will do is change the type of fumes I have in my sitting room. I could I suppose look at one of the fires that doesn't need a flue. Problem with that also is that our estate isn't on that gas line nor will it be due to deregulation. So it'll have to be an LPG fire if at all.

The worst option I have is to completely reline the chimney which is incredibly intrusive and expensive. I've had quotes from 2000 to 4000. All with "no guarantees".

Considered getting the camera survey done but it costs 400 aprox and my house insurance may not cover it if there is a structural problem. I've already had this out with HomeBond to no avail. No great surprise there.

Any thoughts?

karltimber

I had something of a similar problem.
The reason you may be getting smoke into the room is air supply.

Your fire is burning the air in the room - so that air needs to be replenished.
The only way air can get into the room (if the prob is the same as mine) is down the chimney and it brings small amounts of smoke with it.

I bet if you open a window or door the smell will not happen (try from when lighting the fire)
A way around this is to put a vent in a an external wall.

Try anyhow !!

Karl

sas

Thanks for the advice Karl but that doesn't work either. Have tried it with the windows and doors open and I still get the problem. I've tried everything I've come across that doesn't cost lots of money. Nothing seems to work.

What is really strange was that with the electric cowl the problem was not smoke visibly entering the room, it was once the fire had settled down that fumes could be smelt in the room.

Chimneys seem to be a dark art from what I've read so.

Victor

sas wrote:

The chimney is about 1 foot below the peak of the roof so I know thats not correct.

Chimney should be about 3 feet / 1 metre clear of roof.

Is there a permanent vent in the room?

Are you being sensative to the smell?

sas

Victor wrote:

Chimney should be about 3 feet / 1 metre clear of roof.

It is about 1 foot below the hightest point of the roof. It is however also about 6 feet horizontally from the peak. Various builders/chimney specialists have made very little of the chimney height.

Victor wrote:

Is there a permanent vent in the room?.

Yes.

Victor wrote:

Are you being sensative to the smell?.

Its a possibility. But in my experience there is no need for there to be any smell from a fire in the room if it is drawing correctly. We do get smoke curling into the room from time to time and I'm not willing to accept that as just one of those things.

Thanks for the feedback.

Villain

Theres a device you can get that attaches to the top of the chimney and has blades on that spin with a bearing, causes extra draw, a mate installed one recently and the guy was delighted with the result.

sas

irish1 wrote:

Theres a device you can get that attaches to the top of the chimney and has blades on that spin with a bearing, causes extra draw, a mate installed one recently and the guy was delighted with the result.

Thanks but I tried the electric motor version of that with no joy.