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Fireplace question/smoke smell in basement jkdrummer@yahoo.com 01-13-2007
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Posted by jkdrummer@yahoo.com on January 13, 2007, 2:58 am


We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of our
basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent this?

Thanks
JaKe
Seattle


Posted by Joseph Meehan on January 13, 2007, 6:37 am


jkdrummer@yahoo.com wrote:
> We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
> burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
> upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
> downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
> outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
> cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of
> our basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent
> this?
>
> Thanks
> JaKe
> Seattle

I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have one.

I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible problems
and only an on site inspection by an experienced professional can really
tell what is going on.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by jkdrummer@yahoo.com on January 13, 2007, 11:45 am



Joseph Meehan wrote:
> jkdrummer@yahoo.com wrote:
> > We have a home that has a gas firplace in the basement and a wood
> > burning fireplace on the upper floor. When we start a fire in the
> > upper fp we smell smoke downstairs. There's no damper on the gas one
> > downstairs. The gas one has a pipe that goes up the brick work to the
> > outside. We noticed this smell got worse after we installed a chimney
> > cap for the wood fp. So does some of the smoke go down the pipe of
> > our basement gas fp? If that's the case what can we do to prevent
> > this?
> >
> > Thanks
> > JaKe
> > Seattle
>
> I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have one.
>
> I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
> situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible problems
> and only an on site inspection by an experienced professional can really
> tell what is going on.
>
> --
> Joseph Meehan
>
> Dia 's Muire duit

I guess my gas fp is odd because it doesn't have a flue I can shut off.
I just may put a bag over the exhaust stack on the roof.

JaKe


Posted by Joseph Meehan on January 13, 2007, 12:36 pm


jkdrummer@yahoo.com wrote:
> Joseph Meehan wrote:
..
>>
>> I would suggest a damper for the gas fireplace. It should have
>> one.
>>
>> I would also suggest that a good chimney sweep take a look at the
>> situation. This could be a safety issue. There are many possible
>> problems and only an on site inspection by an experienced
>> professional can really tell what is going on.
>>
>> --
>> Joseph Meehan
>>
>> Dia 's Muire duit
>
> I guess my gas fp is odd because it doesn't have a flue I can shut
> off. I just may put a bag over the exhaust stack on the roof.
>
> JaKe

I would want one. With out one, it is like leaving one of your windows
partly open all the time. If you live where I do, that is not a good idea.
Hot in the summer and cold in the winter. If you live in Centralia WA, no
big deal.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by German Jerry on January 13, 2007, 11:53 pm


Jake.
Since you are thinking of puting a bag over the chimney top, I am
gathering you are looking for an inexpensive solution for a gas
fireplace you do not use much. Since you do not have a damper at all i
would suggest an inexpensive chimney balloon for $40. You can buy them
online for whatever size flue you have. They blow up to seal off a flue
just like a damper only tighter. This will seal up your open fireplace
flue and you wont have to go on your roof to do it since the Balloon is
installed from the hearth area. This will eliminate the smoke problem
and also keep you from loosing heat out that open flue downstairs.
If you do buy one get a sized clear chimney balloon. The black one-size
fits all ones with the stick dont work well when there is no damper at
all.


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