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I can smell smoke in the room today why is this?

 Chimneys can all work the wrong way when cold. This is because cold air wants to sink and warm air rise. When a flue is cold, cooler air will travel down slightly sometimes. Outside weather conditions and temperatures effect the flues when they are being used and when they are not being used, much the same as an open fireplace. To reduce smoke spillage it is best to line the chimney or fit a stove fith a flexible liner or twin wall system, because an oversized flue allows the atmospheric conditions to push smoke into the room causing smoke spillage.


Another cause of smoke spillage is on windy days – this is due to wind pushing air down as it rolls over the top of roof tops and trees causes by turbulence. If some cases a stabiliser can be fitted, however this is not very common.


If you are not using the stove and you smell smoke/ or a slight sooty smell close the door to your stove at all times and half close the vents when not using the stove. Remember to regularly sweep your flue system or masonry chimney once or twice a year as required. Most chimney lining systems require sweeping twice per year, as recommended by the manufacturers. Many people sweep once per year, but this would mean that you would not have the sweeping certificates required to prove that it was swept and if the liner failed within it's guarantee period, the guarantee would be void.


The reality is that if you are burning smokeless fuels and wood that is kiln dried or well-seasoned the flue will be fine to sweep once per year and the liner will last longer than the guarantee period on the liner. Manufactures state that it should last the lifetime of the product that is fitted to it. However, we have to recommend sweeping twice per year, as we can not guarantee what fuels are being used in a stove.


Additional point – do not burn pallets as they have a plastic content on them and this dramatically reduces the life time expectancy of the liner and causes the stove to over heat.

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