# "Back drafting fireplace question" or "Ack, I can't breathe in here!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2001, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714 "2001-02-01T14:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@dewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dewt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714/21 "2001-02-05T12:37:36Z")
Yeah, we had it professionally cleaned. I was specific in choosing the company doing the cleaning. I told them that it had not been in use since I bought the house and I wanted it inspected too. I watched them work and must admit they were pretty thorough. I’m sure the flue is cleaned and unobstructed. I don’t know about the shelf **unnamable** wrote of, but if the other tests and mods don’t have the desired effect, I’ll look more into it. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714/22 "2001-02-05T16:14:01Z")
“Traditional open fireplaces have a “choke” or “throat” just above the open fireplace part.” Oh, so that’s what its called. I wondered what it was doing there cause mine seems to have a lot of charcoal dirt in it. I was going to clean it out. dewt, professional chimney person would know what’s going on with your chimney, yet you say they said it was fine? ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714/23 "2001-02-05T18:10:15Z")
**dewt** , have you paid attention to when the furnace goes on and off while you’re burning a fire? You could turn the heat up to make the furnace turn on, and see if the problem shows up in a minute or two. Or while the problem is occurring, turn down the heat to make sure the furnace turns off. ---
**Author:** ![dewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@dewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dewt)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714/24 "2001-02-05T19:52:58Z")
Ya, they said the chimbly was alright. (need to replace inside within a year or two) Next time we light up, I’ll keep my eye on the furnace thing. It might be a while before we attempt to get it going again. Then again, this lazy monday aft might be the perfect time to give it another whirl. 'Cept I’m sick like a dob and don’t want to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.White](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Mr.White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.White)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714/25 "2001-02-09T04:19:40Z")
I have a wood burner that I use for 100% of my home’s heat. If the temerature iside is close to the outside temperature, the stove will not draw. I open a window or door slightly, build the fire and the heat of the fire starts the air movement in the proper direction (up the chimmey.) Once the fire is built, I close the door or window and leave it alone. I only have to do this if conditions are as described above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-drafting-fireplace-question-or-ack-i-cant-breathe-in-here/52714.md?page=1)