Fireplaces – The Magic and the Mystery

We are pleased to share with you valuable Toronto homeowner tips and information from one of the most respected home inspection companies in Toronto, Carson Dunlop, Consulting Engineers.

For this article we focus on the ins and outs of fireplaces!
 
Fireplaces are no longer used as the primary source for heating most homes, but the magic of a fire stills makes a fireplace a valued part of any home. There are few things nicer than a cheery fire, especially on a cold winter night. By the same token, there are few things more distressing than a fireplace which doesn’t draw – belching smoke into the home, chasing people out, setting off smoke detectors, and dirtying everything in sight. Why do some draw perfectly, and others so poorly?
 
Good Design: There are many factors which affect fireplace performance. Some of the more important are listed here:

• Ratio of Fireplace Opening to Chimney Flue Size: The area of the flue should be roughly (1/12) one twelfth the size of the opening area.  
• Chimney Height: The taller the better, but at least 3 feet above the roof and 2 feet higher than anything within 10 feet of it.
• Damper Size and Location: Full width of firebox and at least 6 inches above the top of the opening. The damper is usually closer to the front of the fireplace than the back.  
• Smoke Chamber Slope and Smoothness: The chamber above the damper should be as smooth as possible, and should slope no more than 45 degrees as it funnels the smoke from the damper opening into the chimney.

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