Fireplace Two and Fireplace Three

Jan 3, 2013

Jim

Happy New Year! Well I keep building the same architects fireplaces and they don't work, he calls them a modified Rumford which they have us build a square back (firebox) and I have completed a large estate home in Dallas and the smoke comes back down the neighboring flue when we have two together. I attached some sample pictures

In this project we have 3 chimneys with double flues and in each one the smoke comes back down the flue not in use.

Certainly could use some help here, my cell is 972-849-4960

Thank You...
Paul Pastore
Waterside Properties, Inc.

These are the pages provided to us by the architect to construct the fireboxes and chimneys. The house was so big (30,000sqft+) that we elected to supply air into the house through the HVAC system with units called ERV's (energy recovery ventilators) and those units sense a pressure drop and kick on. That works for a vent fan or a kitchen exhaust fan or fireplaces.

Anyway just thought I should show you these - thanks!!

Jim

More info and drawings.

These are the pages provided to us by the architect to construct the fireboxes and chimneys and they are built per plan. In their general notes they call for fresh air (if necessary) but in this case the house was so big (30,000sqft+) that we elected to supply fresh air into the house through the HVAC system with units called ERV's (energy recovery ventilators) and those units sense a pressure drop and kick on. I personally discussed this with one of the architects and I told him that their design of the fireboxes have a history of not drafting great and that the house was too big to run fresh air lines all over the place. They concurred with our plan to use the ERV system provided by the heating and air contractor.

The ERV's work when a vent fan or a kitchen exhaust fan or fireplaces begin to draw air out of the building.

Anyway just thought I should show you these. thanks!!

Thank You...
Paul Pastore
Waterside Properties, Inc.

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Hello

I have a fireplace in a large log cabin in East Texas that doesn't draw. The house has foam insulation.

The fireplaces have fresh air kits but I think the flue is 8" round pipe, and they installed a power vent on the top of the chimney, still doesn't draw.

I did not build it but the owner is a friend and is asking me to fix it.

Ideas?

Thank You...
Paul Pastore
Waterside Properties, Inc.

Paul,

Run through the suggestions at http://www.rumford.com/smoky.html to determine why the fireplace smokes before throwing solutions at the problem.

From what you've said the house may be too tight without adequate ventilation to insure an updraft in the chimney when it's cold and no fire in the fireplace. The problem may also be the small flue but it's not that much too small for a 30" Rumford and, with a power vent, it should be adequate.

Send me some pictures of the fireplace and the chimney in relationship to the roof and include one up the throat so I can see the throat and damper area. Let me know what you find after trying the suggestions at http://www.rumford.com/smoky.html

Best,
Jim Buckley