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COMMON CHIMNEY PROBLEMS
In order to have a properly operating heating
system, the chimney needs to be capable of
providing su:cient, but not excessive dra;.
approach to improving dra; in an existing chimney
may include one or more of the following: raising
chimney height, adding or changing the Eue liner, or
selecting a di<erent style of cap to be placed on the
top of the chimney. Reasons for insu:cient dra;
include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. Leaking chimney - Air leaking in around a
loose 9=ing cleanout door, joints or seams in
connector pipe are not secured properly,
cracks or other defects in masonry.
2. Chimney needs to be cleaned.
Note: Chimneys need regular maintenance and
cleaning. If a chimney is not cleaned on a
frequent basis, it will affect draft, as well as be a
contributing factor to a potential chimney fire.
3. Improper chimney height - Chimney does
not extend to a su:cient height above the
roof line. (Remember the 3 ;.-2 ;.-10 ;. rule)
4. Obstructions in the chimney - Make sure the
chimney has been cleaned. Di<erent animals
have been known to build nests in chimneys.
5. Trees or other topographical barriers - Trees
that are taller than the house can cause the
air currents to Eow downward over the peak
of the roof.
e<ect on the chimney.
caused by adjacent buildings or structures. It
could even be from a di<erent peak on the
same structure.
6. Improperly sized Eue - Too small of a
chimney is incapable of moving the volume
of air necessary. Too large of a Eue could
have trouble warming up to create the
necessary upward Eow.
7. Chimney o<sets - O<set chimneys should be
avoided if possible. Not only can the o<set
a<ect dra;, it is also a place for debris to
collect over time.
8. Too many elbows -
more than two elbows in it. Sometimes,
depending on overall chimney performance,
one elbow could be too many.
9. Vent sharing - No more than one heating
appliance shall vent into a single Eue.
e
If smoke is observed pu:ng out of the stove or
connecting pipe, it is likely that there is an issue
with dra;. Review the above list for potential
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is would lead to a down dra;
is can also be
e Eue connector has
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