We recently bought a tri-level house built in 1973.
In the sunken family room there is a huge red brick wood fireplace that had a woodstove ducked into the chimney by way of the face.
After we removed the woodstove we built a fire.
All of the smoke rolled right out and filled the whole house. After putting the fire out I noticed that the hole to the flue was only as big as a single red brick. The bricks on the top inside appear to be 4in fire bricks…and no damper. I do not know for sure if this is typical as this is the first brick fireplace I have owned all the rest were inserts. How can I remedy this so I can enjoy this lovely fireplace in the winter without dying from Carbon Monoxide poisoning? Also the lathe on both sides of the inside are exposed inside. I don’t remember ever seeing them on any of my previous fireplaces.
Please no mean or nasty comments, the previous owners were using the woodstove as a secondary heat source a week before we moved in and had stated they just got the chimney cleaned a month prior.

Technorati Tags: brick fireplace, carbon monoxide, chimney, damper, fire bricks, Fireplaces, first brick, flue, heat source, lathe, nasty comments, red brick, tri level, wood fireplace, woodstove

What should I look for in an electrical fireplace, stove, etc? I have gas furnace and a very large home. I have had everything I can think of done to make it more efficient but I am afraid that the gas bill is still going to be too high again this year. I have gas logs but no damper, I have looked into the dampers that install on the top but they all say don’t use with gas logs. ?????

Technorati Tags: damper, dampers, fireplace, gas furnace, gas logs

I need to get a piece of sheetmetal to screw up into the frame of a broken damper so I can seal off my chimney for a set of unvented gas logs. Any idea on what thickness or grade of sheetmetal to use for a high heat area such as this? Also, the damper is some pretty hefty steel..any ideas on how to drive a screw through it..a special drill bit maybe?

Technorati Tags: chimney, damper, drill bit, high heat, sheetmetal

We just bought a house and the fireplace is neither gas or electric. Do I just put wood in the fireplace and open the damper. This is the first house I ever owned with a fireplace. We live in Southern California and it only gets cold in the winter. But I just want to prepare myself. Don’t want to burn the house down or smoke the house if you get my drift. Any suggestions how to start my fireplace that is neither gas or electric?

Technorati Tags: cold in the winter, damper, drift, fireplace, first house, southern california

We just bought a house and the fireplace is neither gas or electric. Do I just put wood in the fireplace and open the damper. This is the first house I ever owned with a fireplace. We live in Southern California and it only gets cold in the winter. But I just want to prepare myself. Don’t want to burn the house down or smoke the house if you get my drift. Any suggestions how to start my fireplace that is neither gas or electric?

Technorati Tags: cold in the winter, damper, drift, fireplace, first house, southern california

We just bought a house and the fireplace is neither gas or electric. Do I just put wood in the fireplace and open the damper. This is the first house I ever owned with a fireplace. We live in Southern California and it only gets cold in the winter. But I just want to prepare myself. Don’t want to burn the house down or smoke the house if you get my drift. Any suggestions how to start my fireplace that is neither gas or electric?

Technorati Tags: cold in the winter, damper, drift, fireplace, first house, southern california

We just bought a house and the fireplace is neither gas or electric. Do I just put wood in the fireplace and open the damper. This is the first house I ever owned with a fireplace. We live in Southern California and it only gets cold in the winter. But I just want to prepare myself. Don’t want to burn the house down or smoke the house if you get my drift. Any suggestions how to start my fireplace that is neither gas or electric?

Technorati Tags: cold in the winter, damper, drift, fireplace, first house, southern california

I have an open fireplace. I just had the chimney cleaned and a new damper put on, so everything should be in good working order..but when I have a fire going, my house is getting so smoky it sets off my smoke detector and I have to open my windows. What could cause this? I know other people who have open wood burning fireplaces that don’t seem to have this issue. Would having glass doors installed help this problem?
I did make sure the damper was open before I started the fire. I also started it with kindling and firestarters…

Technorati Tags: chimney, damper, firestarters, glass doors, kindling, open fireplace, smoke detector, wood burning fireplaces

I’m new to wood burning fireplaces, and have no idea what this lever does. I have moved it while I’ve had a fire going and can’t find any differences. The lever is on the right hand side.

My fireplace has a fan in it that has a high speed and a low speed. There is a grate at the bottom for "air in" and one at the top for "air out". At least I think that’s what they are for. I thought it had something to do with the air flow, but can’t figure it out.

Check out the link for a picture of it in the up position and in the down position.

http://www.myworthlesscrap.com/Shared/Fireplace.jpg

I thought the damper is the lever that is on top? There is a lever at the top of the fireplace inside, that opens it up so the smoke and stuff vents out through the roof.

Technorati Tags: air flow, damper, down position, fireplace, grate, high speed, low speed, wood burning fireplaces

Sorry for posting this twice now, but since I’ve added some information, it seems no one is looking at it; I guess since people have already answered.

I’m new to wood burning fireplaces, and have no idea what this lever does. I have moved it while I’ve had a fire going and can’t find any differences. The lever is on the right hand side.

My fireplace has a fan in it that has a high speed and a low speed. There is a grate at the bottom for "air in" and one at the top for "air out". At least I think that’s what they are for. I thought it had something to do with the air flow, but can’t figure it out.

I thought the damper is the lever that is on top? There is a lever at the top of the fireplace inside, that opens it up so the smoke and stuff vents out through the roof.

Check out the link for a picture of it in the up position and in the down position.

http://www.myworthlesscrap.com/Shared/Fireplace.jpg

Technorati Tags: air flow, damper, down position, fireplace, grate, high speed, low speed, wood burning fireplaces