Possible Chimney Fire: Guidance Before Tuesday's Inspection

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Got it. I think he's booked here all afternoon though to get to the bottom of this. So even burning just some kindling etc will be all we need to see if it's drafting - no big hot fire required?
How quickly does the smoke rollout from the fireplace occur?
 
If the window gets closed it's instant smoke in the room (billowing).

Excuse my ignornace, but I've always thought that even if you didn't have a draft issue, that a small fire would smoke into the room. I take it that's not the case?
No, with a proper drafting system there should be no smoke in the room. Be sure the installer does an inspection of the flue system for obstruction if this is the case.
 
If the window gets closed it's instant smoke in the room (billowing).
To me the fact that smoke goes up nicely when a window is open suggests the flue is fine (no blockage).

The problem is that your home does not have the ability to provide enough air to the stove, either because you do have another place where air is exhausting (do you have a radon system??) or because it's very very airtight.
 
To me the fact that smoke goes up nicely when a window is open suggests the flue is fine (no blockage).

The problem is that your home does not have the ability to provide enough air to the stove, either because you do have another place where air is exhausting (do you have a radon system??) or because it's very very airtight.
This is going around in circles. In the other thread it was mentioned that there is an HRV system in place that is "supposed to be" set up correctly and the fireplace has an OAK that has been checked for obstruction.
 
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I see.
Well smoke does exhaust properly,.just not when there's no window open.
Air supply is the issue one way or the other.
 
Yes, it has sounded like a negative pressure issue to me, but I am not on site.
 
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