A smoking fireplace is one of the most common problems a fireplace owner will deal with. There are a few potential causes for that.
Creosote Buildup
Excessive use of the fireplace plus poor fireplace/chimney maintenance can lead to creosote buildup.
Creosote is a category of carbonaceous chemicals formed by the distillation of various tars and pyrolysis of plant-derived material, such as wood or fossil fuel. The creosote builds on the sides of the flue and created blockage for the smoke to come out.
Creosote has 3 different stages:
Stage 1 – Creosote begins as a loose, flaky deposit that can be easily removed with a simple chimney sweep.
Stage 2 – The Creosote turns into a tar-like deposit which can be more difficult to remove, often requiring specialised brushes or scrapers.
Stage 3 – The creosote hardens and is much more difficult to remove.
Stages 2 & 3 are considered a fire hazards & toxic. They need to be addressed and taken care of immediately.
When the temperature in the flue is high enough, creosote build-up or debris can ignite a chimney fire that can do serious structural damage to your home.