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Chimney Problem

  • 02-02-2010 3:33pm
    #1
    DevMcLovin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    I Hope you can help, I built my house (direct labour) 4 years ago. I hadnt a clue about building or what to look out for when things went wrong, I got an engineer to design the house. The problem is that the chimney was designed and built too low and is about 7-8 feet below the roof ridge. As a result i cant light a fire in windy weather as the smoke will just blow back down the chimney. No cowel will solve the problem and the chimney stack itself is about 7-8ft already and is a single flue so im guessing building onto it is a no go. Is there something that can be done and is there some regulations as to the minimun height of what a chimney height can be?


Comments

  • #2
    Slig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭Slig


    There are regulations in TGD part J (page 6) or in the homebond manual.
    I would assume the best solution to the problem is to look at some different sorts of cowels or caps to create a draw, again there are several examples of these in the homebond manual


  • #3
    DevMcLovin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭DevMcLovin


    I tried a lot of cowels but none have worked, i bought the windkat which did improve the draw. The thing that annoys me the most is that the engineer who designed the house should have known what he did was wrong.


  • #4
    Jimbo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,379 ✭✭✭Jimbo


    Depending on the dimensions of the stack, it might be possible to extend it.
    TGD A here gives guidance on height/width ratios for chimney stacks depending on the site location.

    As Slig said above, Part J gives guidance for the height youll need to get a proper draw on the chimney. You mighn't need to extend it to the ridge height, depend on where it is located.


  • #5
    kqcregg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 109 ✭✭kqcregg


    Similar issue to my own fireplace OP. My solution was to fit a spinner cowl which in itself worked intermitently but I found the biggest issue was getting heat into the flue to create the draw.

    The spinner was creating some draw while also stopping the worst of the downdraft but what made it work in the end was simply putting a lit firelighter on the top of the fireback haunch (or as close to bottom of flue as possible). It has to be at least 300mm (1') above the fireplace opening height to work. This gives enough heat to warm the flue and create the strong draw required. After 30 seconds or so it should be safe to light the fire. (You'll know if the smoke from the firelighter is being drawn up the chimney). If you dont have a decent haunch just hold a lit firelighter up into the flue with your fire tongs.

    Its not ideal but it saved me a lot of hastle. ;)


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