Chimney won't draw

[JoceAndChris]

The chimney sweep has cancelled his visit over and over this winter, there's no sign of a thaw and though the postman just about manages it some days I suppose it does take nerves of steel to come up the very steep, iced hill in an ordinary car - anyway - I think I'm deciding it's too dangerous to use the drawing room fire, as the room is heavy with fumes and the air is thick with black specks and smoke. Do you think it's just that the chimney needs cleaning? Or some worse blockage?

I think I'll just let it burn down today and offer to chauffeur the sweep next week, if he's available. Does that sound like a good idea?

It's sort of tempting to stick my very long ostrich feather duster up there and see what happens.

 

[Onetap]

It could be blocked, so I think you need to assume that it is until proved otherwise. Being cold is generally preferable to being dead..
It may also be a cold chimney; it is the buoyancy of the warm air & combustion products that make the chimney work. Freezing cold masonry can cool the gases sufficiently to stop the chimney working. External chimneys with 3 sides exposed are the most prone. When testing the draw, the chimney is usually warmed for 10 minutes or so with a Primus stove, so I don't think it would take much warming to start it going. A blockage sounds more likely.

 

[philmac1944]

Hi Joce; not nice to think of you freezing over Christmas. Did you have oil delivered ?
I had similar problem once; the black specks were singed twigs at the bottom of a bird`s nest.
Can you shine a torch up the chimney ? If it is a nest it can be brought down with a stick eg. a piece
of bamboo with a hook on the end. I did this and had enough kindling for weeks ! Apparently it
was an jackdaw`s abandoned nest; no fancy jewellery in it though...
good luck, Phil

 

[Flyfisher]

We also usually suffer from 'cold chimney syndrome' when we light the first fire of the season. I put a couple of firelighters in the grate and let them burn for a few minutes, which usually gets the air moving up the chimney, pushing out the 'plug' of cold air that can prevent a good draw. Then I add plenty of kindling and let that burn for 10-15 minutes, after which time the chimney always works correctly. This is not necessary for subsequent fires as the chimney will remain warm for some time, certainly until the next day and perhaps for the day after, ready for the next fire.

However, all of that assumes an unblocked chimney. In my experience a cold chimney is easily 'cleared' within 10-15 minutes before it starts working correctly. If things are still not right after 15 minutes then I'd be concerned about a blockage - something that was a frequent problem for us before I fitted cage-guards to the chimney pots because of birds dropping sticks down the chimney.

If you do have a blocked chimney then a set of drain-rods fitted with a double hook thingy (someone may know it's correct name) can work wonders, as it can be twisted into any twigs before pulling them down. I've cleared an old, unused and totally blocked chimney in this way - it's not particularly difficult, but it's a very messy job, depending on the extent of the blockage!

 

[Penners]

I concur absolutely with the advice above about warming the chimney and clearing blockages.

It's obviously too late pre-Christmas, now, but you can buy your own chimney sweeping (and drain clearance) kit for a very reasonable price.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BRAND-PIECE-DRAIN-CHIMNEY-SWEEP/dp/B003MVAMVQ

 

[Moo]

I think I'll just ... offer to chauffeur the sweep next week, if he's available. .

This from the girl who used to consider herself too nervous and incompetent to get behind the wheel of a car!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I've got very used to driving now.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice. It isn't a "cold chimney" though, we've had a fire in it every day for months. Chris has had a look up there and he says it's just very thick with encrusted soot and apparently there's a very narrow section which is perhaps where it isn't drawing well.

The DIY brushes sound fantastic - I wasn't aware of their existence so thanks very much for that! Must get some.

We're really warm anyway - plenty of other fires in the house and the heating blasting out after our oil delivery.

I hope you're all having equally cosy Christmas Eves.

 

[Penners]

This from the girl who used to consider herself too nervous and incompetent to get behind the wheel of a car!

Well at least we know she isn't nervous any more....! :wink:

 

[middi]

Most of the girls I knew were too nervous and incompetent to get in the back seat of a car :wink:

Middi

 

[jocelyn plummer]

MIDI !!!

 

[Penners]

Middi, I suspect that Joss has inferred something sexual from your post above. This just goes to show what a mucky mind she has.

Of course we all knew you meant that the girls you referred to just didn't want to be back-seat drivers. :wink:

 

[middi]

Middi, I suspect that Joss has inferred something sexual from your post above. This just goes to show what a mucky mind she has.

Of course we all knew you meant that the girls you referred to just didn't want to be back-seat drivers. :wink:

Now that Penners has jogged my memory as to what I really meant Joss, I think an apology should be the order of the day :shock: ( :wink: )

Middi

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Of course we all knew you meant that the girls you referred to just didn't want to be back-seat drivers. :wink:

A rarity indeed! :lol: