My Log Burner...

Martynt74 · 2 Oct 2017 at 08:37

@zarnage

Hopefully my last question directed at you mate. Our fire got finished a few weeks ago and all seemed pretty good, although my wife mentioned that the house seemed a little smokey when she was had the log burner on. Yesterday we lit the fire in the front room (open fire) and it seemed like the whole house was smokey. We never used to get this prior to all the work we've had done.

I'll be phoning the installer and builder to try and get their take on it but i wouldn't mind your thoughts as well given you're independent. It seems especially odd with the log burner as there's a liner going from the fire to the top of the chimney so not really sure where smoke could be leaking from.

Also worth noting that since we'd got the chimney fixed i'd commented that the draw from the open fire seemed better than ever so if anything i'd have expected it to be less smokey.

DXP55 · 2 Oct 2017 at 10:05

Have you tried opening a outside door a crack to see if smoke disappears -- I fitted a Jetmaster years ago -lit it pulled door to behind me as I left room - came back to thick smoke down to floor - went from perfect open fire to one needing air vents to out side and other rooms - That Jetmaster was a total failure. Never had a problem with log burners.

Martynt74 · 2 Oct 2017 at 10:07

No, haven't tried that yet. Will do next time around, but feels like that would defeat the purpose of having a fire to warm the house!

Just can't quite understand why having fitted a log burner would cause a perfectly good working fire to start causing smoke.

Scottland · 2 Oct 2017 at 10:23

You'll have to excuse the mess, we still need to get the wall patched up and plastered, this was post install yesterday

Martynt74 · 2 Oct 2017 at 10:24

Liking the thermometer in the flue pipe

Felix · 2 Oct 2017 at 10:34

Nice Dik....

toprock · 2 Oct 2017 at 15:24

Scottland said:
You'll have to excuse the mess, we still need to get the wall patched up and plastered, this was post install yesterday

Lovely! The exposed brick archway makes it for me, and the brick hearth is stunning!

Scottland · 2 Oct 2017 at 16:01

toprock said:
Lovely! The exposed brick archway makes it for me, and the brick hearth is stunning!

Well unfortunately the archway is getting covered over - we didn't know it was there when we started and only uncovered it whilst excavating the original fireplace. Besides it sits back beneath 20mm of plaster so it would be hard to tie in and also the bricks aren't in that great condition either.

This is what we set out to do before we started:

And this is what we started with:

DXP55 · 2 Oct 2017 at 18:22

Marvt74 said:
No, haven't tried that yet. Will do next time around, but feels like that would defeat the purpose of having a fire to warm the house!

Just can't quite understand why having fitted a log burner would cause a perfectly good working fire to start causing smoke.

Perhaps you was getting air down chimney - now it's blocked you are not- Have you got all round plastic windows and doors - if so you don't have any drafts. - By way my old fireplace had a Baxi back boiler which came with underfloor air supply - I ducted that up to hearth under fire - Also have trickle vent's in windows - If you have plastic windows open a small one and clip it on first notch - it could work in any window provided doors are open a bit round the house.

FurryLemon · 2 Oct 2017 at 18:43

Marvt74 said:
@zarnage

Hopefully my last question directed at you mate. Our fire got finished a few weeks ago and all seemed pretty good, although my wife mentioned that the house seemed a little smokey when she was had the log burner on. Yesterday we lit the fire in the front room (open fire) and it seemed like the whole house was smokey. We never used to get this prior to all the work we've had done.

I'll be phoning the installer and builder to try and get their take on it but i wouldn't mind your thoughts as well given you're independent. It seems especially odd with the log burner as there's a liner going from the fire to the top of the chimney so not really sure where smoke could be leaking from.

Also worth noting that since we'd got the chimney fixed i'd commented that the draw from the open fire seemed better than ever so if anything i'd have expected it to be less smokey.

We had a small Clearview that smoked. Turned out it wasn't drawing properly as they installer didn't have the chimney high enough over the roof line. Been moved up to the library now and works perfectly.

Martynt74 · 3 Oct 2017 at 08:32

Cheers guys, will mention it to the fire installer and see what his opinion is. It certainly feels like it's drawing well which is the confusing thing but there is always the chance of a blockage somewhere up the chimney from debris falling from the chimney rebuild being done.

Felix · 3 Oct 2017 at 08:42

Does it only smoke when the wood burner is on?

Martynt74 · 3 Oct 2017 at 08:44

It does it if either fire is on. Was worse with the open fire in the front room though apparently. I've not been home when the log burner is on, although my wife had that on yesterday and said she didnt think it was as bad.

kinobestew123 · 3 Oct 2017 at 09:28

Marvt74 said:
Liking the thermometer in the flue pipe

Is the thermometer IN the flue pipe or just magnetised on? I have one magnetised on and it looks similar.

toprock · 3 Oct 2017 at 11:46

Scottland said:
Well unfortunately the archway is getting covered over - we didn't know it was there when we started and only uncovered it whilst excavating the original fireplace. Besides it sits back beneath 20mm of plaster so it would be hard to tie in and also the bricks aren't in that great condition either.

This is what we set out to do before we started:

And this is what we started with:

The bricks have such a rustic charm to them, i'd be popping off the wood and tapering the plaster into the setback bricks, although however it ends up its going to look stunning!

kinobestew123 · 3 Oct 2017 at 16:04

Scottland said:
Burner

Is your beam made from wood? It looks almost identical to the one that we have.

zarnage · 4 Oct 2017 at 22:41

Marvt74 said:
It does it if either fire is on. Was worse with the open fire in the front room though apparently. I've not been home when the log burner is on, although my wife had that on yesterday and said she didnt think it was as bad.

Does the log burner stop after the fire is going for a while? Or does it constantly smoke back into the room?

Martynt74 · 5 Oct 2017 at 08:28

I'm not sure to be honest as i've still not been around with the log burner lit. You don't really see much of the smoke it's more the smell and that lingers for quite a while.

One thing i did notice last night is that i opened our cupboard in the bedroom which is fitted in the alcove next to the chimney breast in the bedroom above the log burner and it smelt heavily of smoke. Considering it was 24hrs previous that the fire was actually on this was a bit worrying! There are no visible holes or gaps in the side wall though.

The guy is coming out tomorrow so will see what he says.

zarnage · 5 Oct 2017 at 09:57

Ill assume a few things are okay as its just been installed, like:
- The stove seals/flue system seals are alright.
- The chimney was clean before the liner was installed.
- The pre-burns were done.
- Chimney height was sufficient

Else its could be an issue with the draw, which could be a few things. If it happens more when lighting the stove, and then is better later on, it could just be cold block. If it spills smoke every time you open the door, it could be down-draught or not enough ventilation. 99% of the time though it's cold block.

Martynt74 · 5 Oct 2017 at 10:10

I know the chimney was definately clean prior to being installed and the pre-burns done. Hoping the chimney height is sufficient as it's just been built!

It's the open fire which seems to be the bigger issue. The log burner slightly less so. However prior to fitting the log burner we never had any smoke excaping into the rest of the house.

I'll google cold block.