What Problems Could Arise in My Smoke Chamber? 

When you use your fireplace, you place the wood so that it will burn well and you keep the ashes cleaned out of it, but do you really know what issues are facing not only your firebox but the chimney itself? With that query in mind, let’s ask- what problems could arise in my chimney’s smoke chamber?

What is a Smoke Chamber?

Your chimney’s smoke chamber is directly above your fireplace’s damper and firebox. The smoke chamber works on a simple concept. The smoke chamber ushers smoke from the firebox into your chimney’s flue and into the outdoors. If your chimney is older, it may have a corbeled design where a series of tiered steps lead up the chimney. It made construction easier but can allow unwanted substances to accumulate. A qualified chimney sweep service can smooth out corbeled areas with a process known as parging- using a cast-in-place compound or spraying a special coating.

Why is It Important to Service a Smoke Chamber?

If a smoke chamber isn’t inspected and cleaned once a year, some significant issues could arise. Let’s take a deeper look.

Creosote

The biggest single danger to any chimney is creosote. It is a sticky substance that builds up on the chimney’s interior. Every time logs are burned in your masonry fireplace, it generates creosote. If your smoke chamber is corbeled, it will accumulate even more creosote. “What’s the big deal?” you may ask. Creosote is highly combustible and is the leading cause of chimney fires. If not cleaned at least once a year, you run the risk of a chimney fire every time you use your fireplace.

Inspections

It’s vital that a chimney sweep thoroughly inspects your smoke chamber to locate any issues. If there are cracks in your smoke chamber, it can allow water in and cause extensive damage to your chimney, perhaps even causing it to collapse. 

Inspections can also determine if your chimney has an adequate draft. It is best when your smoke chamber has a smooth surface, which let’s smoke and gases easily exit the chimney. When creosote and soot adhere to the smoke chamber walls, it interferes with your chimney’s draft. Why does that matter? Because it can let deadly gases like carbon monoxide flow back into your home. Cabron monoxide is a silent killer because it is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas. To ensure your family’s safety, be sure to have a carbon monoxide and smoke detector placed about fifteen feet from your fireplace.

To ensure that your chimney is in the best working order that it can be, a chimney sweep will use specialized video equipment to inspect the interior of your chimney. If the chimney sweep finds any issues, a quote will be put in writing before any repairs can begin.

Remember, cleaning and inspecting your smoke chamber and chimney is not a do-it-yourself project. You could wind up doing additional damage to your chimney.

Chimney Solutions Can Inspect and Clean Your Chimney’s Smoke Chamber

Don’t wait until there is an issue with your smoke chamber. If you are in the greater Indianapolis, Northfield, Zionsville, Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Lawrence, Westfield, Avon, McCordsville, or Brownsburg areas, call 317-757-6979 or fill out our contact form. We will inspect and clean your smoke chamber and chimney so you can have peace of mind there are no looming issues.