What do people say about "Smoke Signals"?

Thank you for your response. I've received a couple of great emails. I do appreciate the advice and assistance. The area I live in is Wake Forest/Raleigh, NC. I have found someone who will assist me in this effort. It will be a challenge but I feel it will be worth it in the long run. Again, thank you for your reply.

"Hi There, Thanks for the quick response to my request for information on proper chimney hieght. The information you gave me was very informative and appreciated. Thanks, e j caines."

"Thanks for your web site. I didn't really expect to find much information on the web that would help me, but your web site was exactly what I was looking for... Inman"

"Thank you so much for all your interest and information - it has certainly helped explain the whole chimney and rain thesis....the weather in Melbourne, Australia has been quite bleak for this time of year - looking forward to better weather and surfing! Hope you are doing well in your homelands too! Regards,."

Thank you. After further reading on the website, I believe I found the answer to our problem. Most likely a chimney that need to be a bit higher. Thanks.

I wanted to thank everyone for their responses. We solved the problem with our new terra-cotta chimney pots that were affecting the draw of the existing fireplace. As soon as the chimney guys took off the coordinating terra-cotta dome-shaped rain protector on the top of the chimney pot there was a big difference, the fireplace draws just fine now. I have since read on an English website not to use those types of rain protectors on flues that are used for solid fuel fires, only for gas and oil flues. However now I am back to a little rain falling in the chimney but I can live with that!

Thanks for your excellent response here. Your description confirms my thoughts exactly. After this fire occured I have done extensive research on the web about chimney fires, on their causes and prevention.

Just as you stated the sweeping of the flue twice a season is what is being recommended, and I will do it from now on. Just today I had the video scan completed and it showed the cracks and broken tiles, just as you described.

They clicked a few pictures for evidence if the insurance company needed it. I contacted my insurance carrier the day after the fire occured and let them know what happened. I contacted them today and filed a formal claim.

As for the stainless steel liner. The sweep that came out is giving me a price for liner and installation. I assume it's not cheap, but neither are my gas bills! I have learned a valuable lessson over this ordeal and don't intend to ever let it happen again.

I will take every precaution so it won't.

Thank you so much for your reply!!

I found your web-site extremely helpful. Just this morning I experience a down-draft problem and did not understand what happened. Now I know "How Chimneys Work". Thanks for sharing your knowledge in easy to understand language.