Jim, the damper was only half open the other day. Opening it fully seems to have resolved the problem. The fireplace was built exactly to specs, and it really throws out the heat. The building is pretty tight, so that could be an issue too, but opening the damper was a significant step in the right direction. I will let you know if we have more problems. Thanks, Ron *********** Background discussion: Jim, my name is Ron Coleman. I bought a throat/damper/flue etc for a 48" rumford from you. We finally got everything finished up and have had a couple of fires. I am having a real bad smoking problem. It has set the fire alarm off twice. Can you offer any advice? Not what I was expecting. Thanks, Ron Ron, Sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your Rumford. Every year we learn of a few Rumfords that smoke or don't draw adequately so we have developed a "Smoky Fireplace Checklist". It's an attempt to isolate the many variables and determine why the fireplace smokes before throwing solutions at the problem. Once in a while the fireplace wasn't built correctly or there is some sort of restriction or the chimney is too short but over 90% of the time the fireplace smokes because the house is built so tightly that there is inadequate ventilation to make up for the air needed for, not only the fireplace, but for kitchen and bath fans, furnaces, etc. with the result that air is flowing down the chimney to compensate for all the air beng leaked of pumped out of the house. Please run through the suggestions we make at http://www.rumford.com/smoky.html and let me know what you find. Send a few pictures of your fireplace and chimney, including one shot up the throat so I can see how the damper and throat are made. No need to light a fire at first. Find out first that the fireplace is built to specs and that you can maintain an updraft in the cold chimney, when there is no fire in the fireplace. under normal living conditions with the furnace and various fans on, etc. The good news is that in thirty years with thousands of Rumfords we have never failed to get a Rumford to work well. I look forward to working with you, find out why your Rumford smokes and recommend ways to fix the problem. Best, Jim Buckley Jim, the damper was only half open the other day. Opening it fully seems to have resolved the problem. The fireplace was built exactly to specs, and it really throws out the heat. The building is pretty tight, so that could be an issue too, but opening the damper was a significant step in the right direction. I will let you know if we have more problems. Thanks, Ron

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