my fireplace!!!!

[jodyharris]

Hi guys Im so happy I found your web site. I have a 1989 hampshire mobile home by skyline. Our fireplace is definetly having issues... It actaully puts out some good heat for a fireplace and we wanted to use it to help save on our fuel bill this year, we just purchased this place in September. But...As soon as the fire gets going we can start to smell smoke in the house and we cannot turn on the blower (which works awsome) because the smoke blows right out the blower big time... So we obviously know theres leaks but have no idea how to seal to fireplace, what to use to seal it, and how much this is going to cost ??? Also would it be a better and more efficient to get a fireplace insert ? Thanks for your help in any way you can in this matter !!!


Sincerely,

Jody and John Harris

[David Oxhandler]

Congratulations! You have made a good investment.

Most fireplaces have a flu that adjusts the air flow up the stack. Have you tried opening the flu all the way? Take a look up the stack. If you cant get your head under it use a mirror. check to see that the flu is wide open and that there is nothing blocking the stack or any breaks in it.

If you are in the northern part of the country the most efficient heating would be a wood or wood/pellet burning stove. While a fire place is nice to look at, most of the heat goes up the stack. There are some stove systems that can be installed in a fireplace using the existing stack.

I had a home in New Hampshire that we heated with wood. We installed a stove in our fireplace ad was able to heat the house with about half as much wood.

Find a trusted wood stove supplier or installer in your area, show them your set up, they could tell you what your best options are.