4 Common Problems with Basement Fireplaces

Basement fireplaces can be a true delight, but it’s not uncommon for various problems to arise. All can usually be dealt with and resolved, fortunately, with the help of chimney professionals. Read on for insights that may be helpful if your basement fireplace doesn’t operate properly.

1-Movement of Air

Houses have air movement in which they basically breathe, much like living things. Air is pulled in on lower levels and escapes in the upper levels. The movement of air is often hindered in newer homes because they are built to be more airtight than homes in built in former times. Although there are cost benefits to preventing air from seeping in from the outside, it can have a negative effect on fireplaces—especially those in the lower level of the home. It has to do with something called the “stack effect” together with negative pressure and the neutral pressure plane of the home, which basement fireplaces are underneath.

2-Cold Air, Etc.

If you’ve noticed that cold, outside air won’t stop flowing into your home through your basement chimney, the issue has to do with air being drawn into the home, as described above. That cold column of air has to be dispersed with a newspaper torch or something similar to build a good fire in the basement fireplace. If you can get the fire to burn hot, it will improve the draft. Note: Never use any flammable liquids to enhance your fire because doing so is extremely dangerous.

3-Stinky Air

As the air tends to flow into your basement through the chimney, one thing you may end up dealing with is an unpleasant odor. Depending on the condition of the chimney, the potential for a strong odor can be great. Be sure you schedule annual chimney inspections and cleaning to ensure that your chimney doesn’t have a thick coating of flammable creosote. The toxic substances in creosote are combustion materials that can start a dangerous chimney fire, in addition to releasing a pervading odor into your home.

4-Smoky Air

Many times, a basement chimney in a home is shared by a fireplace on a higher level. A common effect created by the dual side-by-side chimneys is that the smoke will rise up and out of the chimney with a strong draft but then get pulled into the other flue and down into the home through the basement fireplace. The smoke is crossing over from the upper fireplace into the basement fireplace that would typically not be in use at the time. Enough smoke could enter the basement that it affects the rest of the home.

An even worse scenario is if the toxic combustion gases in the liner for the upper fireplace seeps through a damaged flue or deteriorating masonry into the basement chimney. If this is occurring, it means that flue liner repair or replacement is needed for both fireplaces.

Chimney Specialists Inc. can help with leaky chimneys and smoky fireplaces in the basement and throughout the home. We offer fireplace and heating stove sales as well as every type of chimney service you might need, from chimney inspections and cleaning to chimney liner repair, masonry repair, chimney chase cover repair and rebuild, and much more. Contact us today in the Highland WI area at (608) 929-4887. In and around Dubuque IA contact our affiliate location Dubuque Fireplace & Patio at (563) 582-5156.