Can a kitchen extractor fan pull smoke from my fireplace into the room?
Yes. A kitchen extractor fan pushes air out of the house, and the house can replace that air by drawing it down the chimney, which brings smoke into the room with it. It is most likely when the house is fairly airtight and the fire is small or just lit.
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The fan is usually the trigger, not the whole cause. A chimney that drafts well can usually cope with a fan running nearby. If smoke comes in when the fan is on, the flue may be partly blocked, cold, or restricted at the damper, and that is worth finding out.
Why it happens
A fire needs air in and a clear path out. Warm flue gases rise because they are lighter than the air around them. An extractor fan, range hood or other exhaust fan removes air from the house and lowers the pressure inside. Air then comes in wherever it can, and an open fireplace is a large opening.
Anything that weakens the draft makes this more likely. A closed or partly open damper, soot and creosote narrowing the flue, debris or a nest at the cap, a damaged liner, or a smoke chamber with rough surfaces can all slow the draft. A flue on an outside wall is also slow to warm up, so it is weaker at the start of a fire.
Smoke in the room means combustion gases are in the room, and carbon monoxide comes with them. That is why a fan-related puff of smoke should not be dismissed as a quirk of the house.
What you can check yourself
Put the fire out and open a window
If smoke is in the room now, put the fire out and open a window. If anyone feels headachy or dizzy, get outside and call 911.
Switch the fan off
Once the fire is out and the room has aired, note whether the smoke only appears with the fan running. That detail helps the technician.
Check the damper handle
Make sure the handle moves freely and sits fully open. A handle that is stiff, loose or will not stay put points to a damper problem.
Look and smell at the opening
Look for soot staining above the fireplace opening, and notice any stale smoke or damp smell when the fireplace is not in use.
Test your alarms
Check that your carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms are in place and working. Do not light the fireplace again until the cause is known.
When to call a technician
Call if smoke has come into the room more than once, if it happens with the fan off, or if you have never had the flue swept and inspected. Looking and listening only goes so far. A sweep with a camera can see the blockage, the liner and the smoke chamber, which you cannot see from the room. Do not climb on the roof or put anything up the flue yourself.
One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. One call to (866) 576-7943 arranges an independent chimney technician. The estimate is free, the technician inspects the chimney and gives the price before any work starts, and you approve it first. If a fix involves changing the chimney or the home's air supply, permit rules vary by state, city and county, so check with your local building department.
What the technician will do
- Sweep and camera-inspect the flueThe flue is swept and then inspected with a camera to find any blockage or damage. Ask to see the footage.
- Test the draft and find the causeThe draft is tested so the cause is identified, whether that is the flue, the damper or the air balance in the house.
- Free, repair or replace the damperA stuck or poorly sealing damper is freed, repaired or replaced so the flue can open fully.
- Check the cap and crownThe cap and crown are checked for debris, blockage or damage that could restrict the draft or let water in.
- Clean and parge the smoke chamberA rough or deteriorated smoke chamber is cleaned and parged so gases move up the flue smoothly.
Related questions
- Is it safe to use the fireplace if smoke only comes in when the fan is on?
- It is safer to stop using it until the flue has been inspected. Smoke entering the room means combustion gases are entering it too. A technician can tell you whether the draft is sound or something is restricting it.
- Will opening a window fix it?
- It can help as a short-term measure because it gives the house another source of air. It does not remove a blockage or repair a damaged flue, so the underlying cause still needs to be found.
- Can a new range hood or other exhaust fan cause this?
- Yes. A stronger fan removes more air from the house and can overpower a flue that previously worked, especially a weak one. Dryers and bathroom fans can add to the effect. A technician can check the chimney, and a heating or ventilation professional can advise on the air supply.
- Does One Call Chimney do the work?
- No. One Call Chimney arranges the visit with an independent sweep or mason, and that technician does the work. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
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