Your fireplace is a great way to

offset your heating bill and offers a relaxing atmosphere in your home. But smoke billowing into your home from the fireplace can quickly ruin any ambiance and make your fire unbearable and dangerous.

Smoke coming into the home from the fireplace is a common occurrence and often caused by an issue that’s easily resolved. As a homeowner, the first step in keeping smoke from coming into your home is to identify its cause, of which there are a few, including burning unseasoned or damp wood, or chimney draft. Chimney draft is when smoke isn’t allowed to escape the chimney due to a blockage, or because of a damaged or defective chimney damper

But there are simple ways to alleviate these issues and keep smoke out of your home:

• Burn only seasoned hardwood that has been drying for a minimum of six months. This will ensure a clean and smoke-free burn.
• Check to ensure the damper is completely open before each burn.
• Clear the flue of any obstructions, including debris like leaves or birds’ nests that may have been built in the chimney.
• Schedule annually cleanings of your chimney. Cleanings by a professional chimney sweep company will remove from your chimney any build-up that you can’t reach. Build-up often can restrict airflow and can catch on fire in intense heat.

At MCP Chimney, we have the knowledge and experience to ensure your fires are smoke free. We can help free your chimney from obstructions — whether from debris like leaves, or build-up of creosote, a by-product of burning that adheres itself to the interior of your chimney. We also can examine and repair your damper if that’s the culprit.

Furthermore, we can thoroughly inspect your chimney for any necessary chimney repairs, and we offer a variety of other chimney sweep services.

To find out more about how to keep smoke out of your home when burning a fire, or to schedule service to remove any blockages in your chimney, contact us today.