Smoke that puffs out at the fireplace opening, especially when the fire is first lit, is telling you something about draft. Gabriella is a community in Seminole County, and our local, family-owned team looks into draft problems at homes there. Every visit begins with a free inspection, and any work we recommend is priced in writing before it starts.
Draft is the upward pull that carries smoke out of the house. Several things weaken it. A damper that does not open fully, a flue partly blocked by nesting or debris, a heavy layer of deposits, or a smoke chamber above the damper with rough and broken surfaces can all hold smoke back. Wind at the top of the chimney, or a cap that does not suit the flue, can play a part as well.
Tell us exactly when it happens. Smoke only at start-up, smoke only on windy days or smoke through the whole fire each points to a different cause. Note whether the fireplace burns wood or has a gas log set, and whether anything changed recently, such as a new roof, a new cap or a remodel.
Until it has been checked, do not keep testing with bigger fires. If the room gets smoky, let the fire burn down, open a window and leave the fireplace unused. We check the damper, the flue and the smoke chamber, and explain which one is slowing the smoke. The fix might be a cleaning, a damper repair, a better-fitting cap or smoke chamber repair.
You approve the scope before any work begins, and the price you approve is the price you pay. Gas log sets can draft poorly too. Soot on the logs or on the face of the fireplace above the opening is a sign the flame and the venting need a look, and the set should stay off until then.
Call (645) 465-4122 to book a free inspection for your Gabriella home. Confirm that work within 72 hours of the inspection and save 10%. Draft repairs are covered by our workmanship warranty and our promise of 100% satisfaction.
