Common Stove and Chimney Problems

Here are the common stove and chimney problems customers come to us with – and the answers!

We get smoke and smells upstairs / smoke leaks:

Really common stove and chimney problems. The soot and tar forming in the chimney from smoke condensation is high in sulphuric acid. The acid eats away at the mortar joints within the chimney thus creating holes in the walls of the flue. We have many solutions for you.

We get smells upstairs even though we have lined our chimney:

Rare stove and chimney problems. This could be for one of several reasons:

• The residual soot / tar in the now redundant chamber is heating up due to the proximity of the hot stainless steel chimney liner. Check that you have sufficient ventilation throughout the chamber (vents top and bottom)
• The stainless steel liner has residual oil deposits from the manufacturing process (particularly 904 grade). The oil is evaporating and producing a smell / smoke. This problem will pass.
• The liner is blocked / damaged. Get us to inspect.
• Your chimney is not lined correctly. We have seen many ceramic / steel linings terminating before the top of the chimney. Just because you see a lining at the bottom it doesn’t mean it is correctly lined.

Our woodburner doesn’t work as well as it used to:

No Heat: This is probably the fuel. If the wood you burn is not dry enough you will get little heat benefit. Try using a Digital Moisture Meter – we sell them in the showroom – You should not be trying to burn wood which has a moisture content in excess of 20%. In essence, your stove is putting all it’s energy into boiling water rather than keeping you nice and toasty.

Poor chimney draw and, or smoke leaking out of stove : Sweep your chimney. A common myth is a lined chimney doesn’t need sweeping – untrue. If the draw is poor there is a restriction in the flue. Sweep the chimney and check the cowl is not blocked and check the area above the baffle plate is clear. Call 01453 753485 or 01989 218328 to book a Chimney Sweep and Stove Service.

Burns too fast: Check the seals on the stove. When a fire is burning it is sucking air. If the stove seals are good the air can only be drawn in through the air control inlets that you regulate. If the seals are poor the fire will roar! We have all sizes of stove rope and stove rope adhesive in the showroom. Re-roping your stove is part of our Annual Stove Servicing service, and we could sweep your chimney at the same time!

If we haven’t addressed your stove and chimney problems or you need further advice don’t hesitate to call on 01989 218328 or 01453 753485. Also take a look at our FAQ pages.