How to Troubleshoot a Smoking Fireplace Insert

A smoking fireplace insert can cause damage to the inside of your home.

A fireplace insert is a wood stove that is fitted into a traditional fireplace space. Fireplace inserts are designed according to energy and pollution standards required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fireplace inserts burn cleaner and more efficiently than a regular fireplace. A smoking fireplace insert indicates there may be an issue with cleanliness or the installation of the insert. Troubleshoot immediately to prevent damaging fires and smoke, and to reduce the chance that you'll poison your family with toxic gases.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Soap

Instructions

1. Open the damper to the fully open position to properly ventilate the fireplace.

2. Inspect the air intake screen for clogging. Remove the screen and clean it with water and soap to remove any debris and then replace it.

3. Inspect the flue for blockage. Hold a mirror inside the fireplace and turn it until you can see up the flue. If you do not see light, there is a serious blockage. Call a repair technician to come out and fix the flue.

4. Consult your owner's manual for the correct flue size recommendations. Wood inserts need proper clearance to receive enough air inside the fireplace. Call a service technician if the flue size is incorrect.

5. Cap any unused fireplaces with a flue ventilator to give the fireplace you are using enough vacuum to draw the smoke out of the insert.

References

• Hearth: Fire Place Insert: A Short Introduction
• Victorian Fireplace Shop: Troubleshooting Gas Logs, Inserts, Stoves & Fireplace
• Fires and Flames: Smoking Fireplace