To understand how your chimney works, it helps to know how draft affects the flow of exhaust gases out of your chimney. When your chimney is suffering from draft issues, you may see such problems as smoke and toxic gases entering your home and difficulties starting a fire. Numerous things including negative air pressure can result in chimney draft problems. Fortunately, the chimney technicians at Aelite Chimney Specialties are experts in chimney draft. They understand exactly how a chimney should work, and they know how to solve the problems that are causing the draft in your chimney to be faulty. The last thing you want to deal with this winter when you are trying to light a fire is an issue with the chimney draft. If you have been noticing unpleasant odors or smoky air coming from your fireplace, you may have chimney draft problems. We can take care of your draft problems now so that you will be prepared for winter. We would like to tell you more about chimney draft by sharing with you some information from the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA).
How does draft work in my chimney?
Have you ever heard that hot air rises? This is the basic principle of how a chimney works. Also known as the stack effect, this process involves heated air rising to the top of the chimney and cooler air replacing it to help push the byproducts of combustion out of the chimney. Draft problems can occur when negative air pressure in your home prevents the hot air from exiting the chimney. This causes a backdraft that can force smoke and toxic gases back into your home, which can be a hazardous situation.
What causes chimney draft problems?
Ranging from a blocked chimney flue to an incorrectly sized flue to installation problems, many things can lead to issues with chimney draft. Sometimes the problems are easily solved, such as a closed damper that needs to be opened. Other problems like a flue blockage or a clogged chimney cap need professional attention. The chimney technicians from Aelite Chimney Specialties are experts in taking care of flue blockages and clogs in chimney caps and can get the air flowing correctly again through your chimney.
How does an incorrectly sized flue cause chimney draft issues?
In order for a chimney to do the best possible venting job, the flue opening needs to be exactly matched to the vent opening on the heating appliance. If the flue is too small, there may not be enough room for the volume of rising air the appliance needs. If the flue is too large, it may draw too slowly for the appliance, and may never get hot enough to compensate. Aelite Chimney Specialties can inspect your flue to be sure it is correctly sized for your heating appliance. If not, we can design and install a new flue that will exactly match the size of your appliance.
Take care of any chimney draft problems you may have before winter arrives. Contact us at Aelite Chimney Specialties to schedule an inspection of your fireplace and chimney.