Is this flow reversal? Is there any way to stop it?

[begreen]

I'll check it out, I think they may be Halo cans. Sounds like you are in Westchester. That's where I grew up.

 

[laynes69]

I have read alot about exterior masonary chimneys. I always hear bad things about then because of draft, but ours even ice cold produces draft. If it doesnt something is clogging it. I have never had a problem with reverse flow with our chimney, but our is about 35 feet high. We get too much draft at times, so I use a barometric damper on the flue. I think alot of problems are from masonary chimneys that might be too short for good draft, then add the outside temps, Etc .

 

[fastrac]

I have read alot about exterior masonary chimneys. I always hear bad things about then because of draft, but ours even ice cold produces draft. If it doesnt something is clogging it. I have never had a problem with reverse flow with our chimney, but our is about 35 feet high. We get too much draft at times, so I use a barometric damper on the flue. I think alot of problems are from masonary chimneys that might be too short for good draft, then add the outside temps, Etc .

is your chimney the highest part of your house?

Most likely its because you dont have a pressure problem.

The problem is not just about cold chimneys, you can have an interior chimney with the same problem. It has alot to do with the pressure in a home

 

[laynes69]

No the chimneys not the highest part of the house. We have an old 2400 square foot victorian. I reducted the whole house, and I opted to not put any returns in the basement, which were there before. I didnt want the moisture, dust, etc to enter the duct system. The house stays much cleaner now, and with the old basement being drafty, along with an old house, the wood furnace always gets the air it needs. Our house is fairly tight, tighter than alot of homes this age, and heats better than my grandmas trailer heated. We have uraformaldahyde foam, which is appx 6 to 8 inches thick, double pane double hung windows, and triple track storm windows. Heats well.

 

[fastrac]

Did you foam the ceiling of the top floor? (making the attic area outside of the envolope)

Or did you foam the attic rafters (making the attic actually part of the envolope)

 

[laynes69]

My father owned the house for about 18 years, 2 years ago I bought it. He owned an insulating business, so in 79 he insulated it. The top of the ceilings are blown in insulation, the rafters are untouched. This way we get ample air for the attic. I do need more insulation for the attic floor, because its settles to about 1 1/2 inches to 3 inches. We also have a thermostatic controlled attic vent for the summer time. The house is 150+ years old.