prompter: Sometimes when I start a fire in the fireplace, it makes some smoke that blows into the room. Are there any tips to prevent that?

assistant: Yes, there are several things you can do to prevent smoke from blowing into your room when you start a fire in the fireplace:

1. Open the damper: The damper is a small door in the chimney that allows smoke to escape. Make sure it is fully open before starting a fire.

2. Prime the flue: If the flue is cold, it can create a barrier that prevents smoke from escaping. To prevent this, prime the flue by lighting some newspaper and holding it up to the damper for a few minutes before lighting the fire.

3. Use dry wood: Wet or green wood can produce more smoke and contribute to creosote buildup in the chimney, which can increase the risk of a chimney fire. Use dry, seasoned wood instead.

4. Build a proper fire: Make sure you are building a proper fire, with kindling and small pieces of wood at the bottom, and larger logs on top. This helps the fire burn more efficiently, producing less smoke.

5. Use a fireplace grate: A fireplace grate can help improve air flow, making the fire burn more efficiently and reducing the amount of smoke produced.

6. Keep the area around the fireplace clean: Make sure the area around the fireplace is free of debris, such as leaves or twigs, which can be blown into the room by the draft created by the fire.

By following these tips, you can help prevent smoke from blowing into your room and enjoy a cozy fire in your fireplace.

prompter: What’s a damper? Is it possible my fireplace doesn’t have one?

assistant: A damper is a mechanical device that is used to control the airflow to a chimney. It is basically a metal plate that can be opened and closed to control the flow of air into the chimney. If your fireplace does not have a damper, then it is likely that it has a vent instead. A vent is a small opening in the wall of the fireplace that allows air to enter and exit. It is often used to allow cool air into the fireplace so that the fire will not overheat the area around it.

assistant: A damper is a device used to regulate the flow of air through a chimney or flue in a fireplace or wood stove. It is typically a metal plate or valve that can be opened or closed to control the amount of air that enters or exits the chimney.

If your fireplace is equipped with a chimney, it should have a damper to control the air flow. However, if your fireplace is a gas fireplace, it may not have a damper, as gas fireplaces typically do not require a chimney.

If you are not sure whether your fireplace has a damper, you can check by looking up into the chimney with a flashlight or by asking a professional chimney sweep or fireplace installer to inspect it for you.

assistant: A fireplace damper is a small door in the chimney that allows smoke to escape up and out of the fireplace. If the damper is closed or not suitably open, smoke from the fire will escape through the fireplace door and into the room. While it is possible that your fireplace doesn't have a damper, it is highly unlikely because this would be a serious hazard to anyone in the home and detrimental to life due to carbon monoxide poisoning. 

If you believe you have a damper issue with your fireplace, before starting a fire, you should contact a fireplace professional immediately to have it inspected and resolved. If you have started a fire and cannot get the fireplace damper open, you should close the door to the fireplace to prevent smoke from entering the room and home. If you are unable to do this, and smoke is entering into the room, you should exit the home and call the fire department or police immediately for emergency service.

assistant: To reiterate on point 1: A damper is a device used to regulate air flow from the fireplace to the chimney. It is most often located just above or on top of the fireplace, inside the chimney. From outside it can generally be operated via a metal handle.

If you have an open fireplace it is unlikely that it doesn't have one. Without it it would be impossible to prevent air from travelling through the chimney even if the fireplace is not used, which causes heat loss.
If your fireplace is enclosed, it might be possible that air flow is regulated by some other means, for example a vent underneath the fireplace.

assistant: Yes, there are several tips that can help prevent smoke from entering your room when you start a fire in your fireplace:

1. Open the damper: Make sure the damper is fully open before you start the fire. This allows proper ventilation and helps draw the smoke up the chimney.

2. Prime the flue: Before starting the fire, you can "prime" the flue by lighting a rolled-up newspaper and holding it up the damper opening for a few minutes. This warms the air in the flue and helps establish a draft that will draw smoke up the chimney.

3. Use dry, seasoned wood: Wet or green wood can produce more smoke than dry, seasoned wood. Make sure the wood you use is dry and has been stored in a dry place for at least six months.

4. Check the flue for blockages: Check the flue for blockages such as debris, leaves, or bird nests, as these can impede airflow and cause smoke to back up into the room.

5. Build the fire correctly: Build the fire correctly to ensure that it burns efficiently and produces less smoke. Start with a small amount of kindling, and then add larger logs once the fire is burning well.

6. Keep the fire small: A small fire produces less smoke than a large fire. Avoid overloading the fireplace with too much wood, as this can cause the fire to smolder and produce more smoke.

7. Consider a chimney cap: Installing a chimney cap can help prevent downdrafts and blockages that can cause smoke to enter the room.

By following these tips, you can help prevent smoke from entering your room and enjoy a warm, cozy fire in your fireplace.

assistant: Here are a few tips to prevent smoke from entering the room when starting a fire in a fireplace.
- Make sure to build the fire towards the back of the fireplace.
- Use firewood that is well-seasoned and dry.  Green wood, or wood that is wet, will create much more smoke.
- Try to prime the chimney before starting the fire.  You can use a rolled up piece of newspaper for this.  Making the air in the chimney warm before starting the wood on fire will prevent cold air in the chimney causing a backup of the smoke.
- Consider installing a smoke guard, or glass doors to reduce the size of the fireplace opening.

prompter: A friend mentioned buying a wood stove with a reburner in it might help. Would that be worth the investment, and would it actually help with smoke blowing back into the room? What exactly does a reburner do?

assistant: A reburner is an additional device that burns off any remaining fumes in the stove after the fire goes out. The reburner makes it possible to burn wood completely and efficiently, resulting in a cleaner and more efficient fire. A reburner also helps to cut down on smoke. There are different types of reburners available, including models that sit on top of the stove or are built into the side of the stove. Which type of reburner is right for you will depend on your needs and preferences. So, a reburner is definitely worth considering if you want a clean-burning fire and less smoke.

prompter: Great, thank you! My slaves were coughing so much, but now they can finally get back to work.