Anybody around these parts know much about fireplaces?

Mine decided to start letting smoke back into the house and I dont know why -- there has always been a slight smokey smell in the house but nothing more than I normally smell when I go to a house with a fireplace. Well I can see the smoke coming out the front of the fireplace -- that sucks cause I love my fireplace

Creosote build up? you may need the expertise of a professional chimney sweeper. They make creosote cleaning logs too. The wind can do it too (blow smoke back in) but usually its because its not breathing right

If the flue is not designed right it could allow air back into the house. IS it old hand made or manufactured new style?
Could be plugged up also. Cleaned it lately?

Best thing is to try CSL. http://cleanyourchimney.com/ If it's really bad, get a professional chimney sweeper.

You must have some problem with the smoke getting out. Those things are designed where there will be less pressure up than in the fireplace itself or in your house, thus making the smoke want to go up though the chimney.

So I would guess you have a nest of some sort, extreme build up of soot, or maybe even a dead animal lodged in the chimney that is preventing the smoke from leaving freely. One would think this would especially be the case if this is a new problem.

Good luck getting it fixed.

Are you running the heater/fan in your house? The return air may be sucking air in from the chimney, thus pulling in the smoke. I had that issue at my 1st house. We couldn't run the fan/heater at the same time the fireplace was lit.

Its an insert -- this is the 3rd year and I havent cleaned it proper -- just with a log

The smoke has always gone out no problems -- there is a screen around the top so no animals or birds can get in.

This is the 1st fireplace Ive had that wasent a brick fireplace, I dont like it nearly as much as a good built in brick fireplace,

You sure the baffle is opening that leads from the fire box to the chimney stack?

LOL --- Yea -- Im sure -- its not ALL coming in just some of it


What -- You think Im from SETX or Tennessee or something?

I am in love!!!!

open a door when you first light it. that will alow the air to move freely out the flue. once the flue heats up some it will draft properly. if its not a start up problem, id check the condition of the flue. as stated it may need to be cleaned. you should clean it at least once a year. it depends how much you use it and what you burn. ive used my stove heavy for two years w/o cleaning burning only hard wood and it wasnt all that coked up.

Sure you aint burning green wood? Cause that will do it. More smoke and less heat to rise up causing draft=smoky house

If you use it much at all you gonna be surprised at how much buildup you have in it after 1 year, let alone 3. That thing needs a proper cleaning after every season.

Like everyone said,Check that it doesn't need cleaning!If the wind is blowing bad you must build a hot fire to overcome it!Make sure to have a hot fire also if the wife is running the dryer,stove vent,bathroom vent,or anything else that sucks air from house!!Hope this helps!

Havent cleaned mine in 5 years....ya'll think it's time?

When you get home to see the FD standing around what once was your house you will know it was overdue...........

home depot has the brush and extention poles. not that hard to do.

hey im new on here and from SETX ...what are these "fireplaces" you talk about?

Thats why I love my gas fireplace. No smoke, no logs, no mess!

The only gas I have in my house is when I eat beans or cabbage

Nothing like the real thing