Cold Chimney:
Cold air blocks warm air and smoke from rising, very common problem when first start using your appliance at the beginning of the season.

Blocked Chimney:
Soot, creosote, or debris build upcan reduce the draught significantly. Having your chimney swept at least once a year helps prevent build up.

Damp Wood:
Damp wood will struggle to burn hot enough and create excessive moisture and smoke in the chimney / flue. Use kiln dried or seasoned wood with less than 20% moisture.

Not Enough Air in the Room:
Modern and newly renovated homes are extremely air tight and can choke the fire. Houses built after 2008 require an air vent or stoves with external air inlets.

Poor Chimney Design:
Short, wide, or poorly insulated chimneys don’t draught well. You may need a flue liner, extension or alternative cowl.

Closed Air Vents or Damper:
A lack of airflow into the stove will starve the fire of oxygen preventing an active burn. Ensure air vents are open fully to begin burning and closed as required.

Weather: 
Warmer or more temperate weather has less of a pressure difference and can cause the chimney to struggle draughting. Similarly low pressure weather systems, such as storms and snow, and down-draughts from the wind can reduce the draught.

How the weather effects your fire and chimney:
Cold weather increases the pressure difference between the chimney and outside and helps promote the draught. Whereas warm or temperate weather has less of a pressure difference and can cause the chimney to struggle draughting.

Low pressure weather, such as storms and snow, can reduce the draught.

High winds can cause an up-draught and cause over-burning but can also cause a down-draught and smoking back. Cowls can help reduce the effect of wind on a chimney.

At least once a year

How long does a chimney sweep take?
40-60 minutes

What are the signs of a blocked chimney?- - Smoking back into the room instead of going up the chimney / flue

• Unusual odors (like soot or tar)
• Slow-burning fires or difficulty starting a fire
• Visible soot around the fireplace

• Use seasoned, dry wood or approved smokeless fuels
• Sweep regularly
• Avoid burning treated wood or household waste
• Install a chimney cap to keep out debris, weather and birds

No slumbering is highly discouraged and most modern, ECO stoves prevent slumbering

Yes, annually, to ensure safety and performance.

Yes but you’ll need an alternative system to safely vent the smoke and gases. The most common solution is a twin-wall insulated flue system.

Yes – balanced flue or flueless gas fires can be used without a traditional chimney.

Gas tends to be cheaper per kWh than electricity, though modern solid-fuel stoves can be competitive in efficiency.

Creosote is a dark, tar-like substance that forms inside chimneys and flue pipes when wood is burnt, especially if the fire burns incompletely or the wood is unseasoned or high moisture content.

It’s is not recommended to burn wood and smokeless fuels together.

• wood burns best with air from above and in a bed of its own ashes
• Smokeless fuels burn best with air from below
• Burning them together creates excess soot, tar and creosote
• The chemical reaction between wood gases and smokeless fuels can create acidic deposits, which corrode metal flue liners and damage your stove.
• It often goes against product warranties.