Why You Should Have Your Fireplace’s Smoke Chamber Sealed

“What goes up must come down.” It’s one of Newton’s Laws of Physics. But when you’re basking in the warmth of a crackling wood fire, the last thing you want is for smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide exhaust to invade your living space. So how does your chimney defy gravity and ensure these gases exit your home efficiently? That’s the purpose of your fireplace’s smoke chamber, and why you should have it professionally sealed.

What is a Smoke Chamber?

The smoke chamber is a vital, often-overlooked area of your fireplace system. It sits directly above the damper and below the flue. Its unique inverted funnel design effectively compresses the smoke and hot gases coming from the firebox. This process helps direct the contaminants into the narrower passage of the chimney flue, allowing them to exit your home efficiently.

How Does a Smoke Chamber Work?

As hot gases rise naturally from the fire, the smoke chamber transitions the exhaust flow from the wide firebox opening into the smaller, vertical passage of the chimney flue.

Your fireplace’s smoke chamber should have a smooth, sealed surface. A smooth surface allows hot gases to move more efficiently, maintaining the upward draft that pulls smoke out of your house. If the smoke chamber’s masonry walls have jagged edges or cracks, the rough surface creates turbulence, reduces the draft, and forces smoke back into your home.

Why Do Smoke Chambers Need to Be Sealed?

Most smoke chambers in older masonry chimneys were built with an outdated technique called corbelling, in which bricks are laid in a stair-step pattern. This construction results in jagged edges and awkward corners that attract soot and creosote deposits, increasing fire risk and making it more difficult to sweep.

Sealing, or parging, the smoke chamber is essential for three reasons:

1. Safety and Efficiency: Sealing the chamber with a smooth, insulating material not only improves airflow but also significantly reduces the risk of fire and hazardous smoke and carbon monoxide leaks.
2. Fire Prevention: The rough surfaces and gaps in an unsealed masonry chamber are prone to collecting flammable creosote, a natural byproduct of combustion. A spark or stray ember can ignite a fire in the smoke chamber that can spread to the surrounding walls and ceiling of your home. A sealed chamber helps prevent this fire hazard.
3. Easier to Sweep: Without jagged edges, awkward corners, and gaps to trap soot and creosote, the smooth, sealed surface makes it easier and more efficient to clean the chimney and flue.

Signs Your Smoke Chamber Needs to be Sealed or Parged

Be on the lookout for these common indicators that your smoke chamber needs professional attention:

• Corbeled Brick or Cracks: If your smoke chamber has corbeled brick or masonry cracks, it needs to be sealed. Current building codes require smoke chambers to be parged smooth.
• Difficulty Starting/Maintaining a Fire: The fire is difficult to light, or the wood is burning at lower temperatures, resulting in incomplete combustion.
• Smokey Fireplace: Smoke fills up the fireplace and into your room, especially when starting a fire or on windy days.
• Excessive Creosote Buildup: The smoke chamber has 1/8” or more of creosote buildup. 

Advantages of Using SmokTite® for Sealing the Fireplace’s Smoke Chamber

When choosing a solution for sealing and restoring a damaged smoke chamber, Approved Industries’ products like SmokTite® offer superior benefits over other solutions:

• Incredible Strength: SmokTite® is a highly insulating refractory product that withstands temperatures of up to 2,291°F. Its ceramic coating insulates your chimney and home from the intense heat and gases when using your fireplace.
• Streamlined Application: The innovative spray-on application process ensures complete uniform coverage, sealing every crack and gap. 
• Restores Structural Integrity: Unlike other products, SmokTite® not only seals but also restores the structural integrity of the smoke chamber.
• Cost-Effective: Its simpler application and unmatched durability make Smoktite® highly cost-effective for repairing, sealing, and restoring the smoke chamber.

Seal & Restore Your Fireplace Smoke Chamber with SmokTite®

Don’t just seal your fireplace smoke chamber; restore it with SmokTite® from Approved Industries! Smoktite® is a specialty product available exclusively for use by chimney and fireplace professionals. Visit our website to find a certified installer near you and browse our complete line of advanced ceramic coatings.