Fireplace Repair

The problems people call about

Fireplace problems tend to fall into three groups:

• Smoke and draft. Smoke spills into the room when the fire starts, when a door opens or for the whole burn.
• Damage inside the fireplace. Cracked or loose firebrick, open mortar joints, a rough or crumbling smoke chamber, a damper that will not open or close.
• Factory-built fireplace issues. Cracked refractory panels, warped metal, a damaged glass door or screen.

Each group has different causes, so the repair page you need depends on what we find.

A single fireplace can have problems from more than one group. A smoke chamber that is rough and stepped can contribute to smoking, and a damaged firebox can let heat reach parts of the structure that should not get hot. That is why we look at the whole fireplace, not only the part you mentioned.

Why a fireplace smokes

A fireplace draws when warm gases rise up the flue and pull room air in through the opening. Many things can upset that balance:

These are clues, not answers. Our guide why smoke comes into the room explains each in more depth.

How we assess it

1. Ask about the patternWhen the smoke happens, what wind or weather, which fans were running. Patterns narrow the cause.
2. Measure and lookWe check the opening size, firebox, damper and smoke chamber, and compare the opening with the flue size.
3. Inside the flueWhen the flue allows, a chimney camera checks for blockage, creosote and damaged tiles.
4. OutsideWhen safe, we check the chimney top, cap and surroundings that affect draft.
5. Findings with photosYou see what we found, with photos, before any repair is scheduled.

Repair options

• Firebox repairs. Replacing cracked firebrick and repointing joints with refractory mortar. See firebox repair.
• Smoke chamber work. Smoothing a rough or stepped smoke chamber can improve flow. See smoke chamber parging.
• Damper repair or replacement. Including top-sealing dampers. See chimney dampers.
• Draft fixes. Depending on the cause: cleaning, a different cap, a smoke guard to reduce the opening height, a properly sized liner, or changes to how the house supplies air.
• Factory-built units. Replacement panels, grates, screens and doors, using parts listed for that model when they are available.

A note on factory-built fireplaces

Factory-built fireplaces are tested and listed as a system. Repairs need to use parts approved for that model. If the model is unknown or parts are no longer made, the realistic options may be to stop using it for wood fires, convert it within the manufacturer's allowances, or replace the unit. See factory-built fireplaces: care and limits.

Glass doors, screens and smoke guards

Glass doors on a masonry fireplace can reduce how much warm room air goes up the chimney when the fire is dying down. They can also change how the fireplace draws, and some doors are meant to be open during a fire. Check the door manufacturer's instructions. Warped frames or cracked glass should be repaired or replaced before the next fire.

A smoke guard is a strip of non-combustible material fixed across the top of the opening. It reduces the opening height, which can help a fireplace whose opening is too large for its flue. Testing with a temporary guard first shows whether it helps before anything is installed.

Limitations

Some draft problems come from the house rather than the chimney, such as strong exhaust fans or a very airtight building. We can identify them and suggest changes, but the fix may involve other trades. Some chimneys are simply too short or poorly located for an open fireplace, and in those cases a closed appliance may perform better than any repair.

Repairs inside the firebox also need the right materials. Ordinary brick and mortar are not made for direct fire exposure. Firebox repairs use firebrick and refractory mortar designed for high heat, and the joints are kept thin as manufacturers recommend.

What affects the scope

Whether the fireplace is masonry or factory-built, how much of the firebox needs replacement, access to the smoke chamber, the flue condition, and whether parts are still available for a prefab unit.

Draft problems sometimes take more than one step to solve. When the cause is not clear, we may suggest starting with the simplest change and checking the result before moving to larger work. We explain that plan before anything is scheduled.

Next step

Request a fireplace assessment. Describe when the problem happens, since it helps us plan. A team member will contact you to confirm a time.

Questions homeowners ask