Many thanks for the informative website. What other health issues can arise because of fireplace smoke? Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are actually a major cause of environmental pollution and cause more than fifteen thousand house fires every year. could have developed a sensitivity to the carcinogens in burning wood or the fireplace may be putting our NO2 or another aggravating or dangerous gas. volume for combustion and to exhaust heat up the chimney. Damper is a valve or a plate that stops the flow and regulation of air inside the chimney. is causing such a suction it may be back-drafting your furnace flue, Well, it depends. It is good that you have a carbon monoxide detector in the home. Either you can put off the fireplace – This is not a feasible option if the temperatures are dipping below freezing point – or you can wear a mask on the nose to filter the carbon particles and the smell. I am wondering, if when the heating comes on, And this smoke does contain some amounts of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. I mean that is how it is supposed to be. We have consulted the only expert in town and he can find no Balloons just to seal off the chimney from their homes interior air. sorry for the long question- I just wanted to be as thorough as However, it must be noted that this is true only for a wood-burning fireplace and not for a gas or an electric fireplace. For some people, exposure to wood smoke can give rise to a headache. Can a fireplace come without a chimney or a vent? As we have seen above, there can be a lot of reasons why excess smoke is entering your house. While this is more common to people suffering from migraine, it can also affect other people who do not suffer from migraine. If you are sensitive to burning wood smell and smoke or suffer from migraine, you must be extra vigilant to detect any malfunctioning and faulty fireplace. If we didn't write anything in the past day, you won't receive an email. The kind where you can easily snap a twig and you hear the crackling sound of the fire. The passive exposure of their inside air to the creosote, soot and other What testing has been done? path from the fireplace. Although it does not produce as much smoke when normally burnt, if there’s a fault in the system, it can give rise to toxic fumes. What I did do though is install a remote controlled gas insert. Anyways if it isn’t too cold, you won’t be need to light the fireplace. However, it must be noted that this is true only for a wood-burning fireplace and not for a gas or an electric fireplace. You can also use a smoke guard to limit the smoke entering. Thanks a lot for sharing. Accumulation of soot and creosote along the walls of the chimney. We had an expert come out and inspect it- he capped off an older part of the chimney that he thought could be causing smoke and fumes to be pulled into the house. Make yourself aware of the symptoms that carbon monoxide poisoning causes so that you can immediately seek medical attention if you observe them in yourself, your family or your guests. This can cause partial smoke to rise through the chimney while some of it escapes from the front of the fireplace. I had to stop burning wood in my fireplace. Running an average 1500 Watt fireplace costs $0.18 per hour. carbon monoxide, fireplace backdraft, headaches. Q: Jason, I have a problem when I use my fireplace-Initially, smoke was occasionally coming in and I would feel very sick from the fumes- headaches, dizzy, nautious. This makes the Very informative article. This can be prevented by periodic checks. Can wearing a mask reduce the effects of smoke? Another alternative is to use a gas fireplace. A: Hi AP, The trick about fireplace use is it turns your home into a Or you Mainly it is the carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emitted by the burning wood that is the cause of the headache. A smoke guard limits the opening in the fireplace and thus controls the draft and the flow of heat in the fireplace. The wood for the fireplace should completely dry. Over a period of time, if the chimney is not cleaned thoroughly, soot and creosote can accumulate along its walls. One of them is exposure to smoke or pollution which contains carbon monoxide. This sensitivity is very common. It can cause a dull headache to these people on exposure to the smoke. home intake air through routes that it might not otherwise intake It might require an investment, but it will be worth it. water heater flue, or even through an attached garage door. Electric fireplaces can cost anywhere between $200 and $2000. If you’ve maintained your fireplace, and you’re still sensitive to the smell even though there is negligible smoke escaping into the room, a smoke guard can help in this case. - AP. It is very efficient in terms of energy used as a typical electric fireplace with maximum flame will cost as little as $0.18. through under normal situations.It could be that your fireplace Being … You will receive a daily email containing all the posts made in the past 24 hours. Unsubscribe any time. Hence whenever you smell and feel significant amount of smoke entering your room, make sure to check all the above points for the reason. Usually, smoke from the fireplace does not enter the room and escapes through the chimney. I have migraine and get headaches for a bunch of reasons. huge vacuum. Pollution Caused by Wood Burning In addition to polluting the air indoors, home wood-burning also causes a … The most efficient and virtually smoke-free alternative to a wooden fireplace is an electric fireplace. I do have one other questions for you though...what type of wood do you generally burn and how long have you dried it for? So can fireplace smoke give you a headache, even if you do not suffer from migraine? contaminants in the chimney residue bother them even without the fire. It can cause a dull headache to these people on exposure to the smoke. Once you make the initial investment, the cost of running and the subsequent hazards are almost non-existent. ». If you’re not able to figure out on your own, it is better to call a professional to solve the problem. Now of course you won’t be using soaking wet wood, but if you thought even damp wood would do, you’re mistaken. Wood contains a mixture of chemicals and it is obvious that when you burn it, it releases a number of gases. Wood Smoke Can Be Quite Toxic. « How good does the Chimney Balloon really work? You might notice effects such as coughing and shortness of breath within a few days (and sometimes even within a few minutes) of exposure to the fumes. They sure do!! problems. Hence the best alternative is to have an electric fireplace. Some of these gases can be toxic for humans like benzene, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Exposure to wood smoke can cause a lot of issues like respiratory problems and irritation in the eyes. If there is not much difference between the external temperature and the temperature within the house, even though the fireplace drafts well, there are chances of smoke being puffed in the house. But sometimes due to inappropriate conditions, some smoke can escape into the room. Although a little exposure to it won’t result in poisoning, if you are sensitive to the smell of burning wood, the combination of carbon monoxide and burnt wood can be a trigger for a headache. Hence it is very important to clean the chimney regularly. I am allergic to burning wood whether it is in a fireplace or not so if you are getting migraines it is because you have a sensitivity to the smoke. the intake is pulling fumes into the house and making me sick. Some people have bought Chimney | How can I tell if I have a vented or vent-free (ventless) gas logs? The higher cost is for the design and more efficiency. Also it depends on how well built and airtight your stove is because the cheaper models will release some smoke into your house irritating your sinuses. You might think it’s a bad idea, but you do have ventless gas fireplaces. possible. It's not the stove but the chemicals in the smoke that causes the headaches. Of course, we aren’t talking about wood-burning fireplaces here. - Jason, Posted by Jason Raddenbach on January 11, 2011 at 04:04 PM in Fireplace Smoke & Smell Problems, Save Heat | Permalink, Tags: When Is It Safe To Switch On Stove After Gas Leak. What testing has been done? It pays to buy a good model.. We know how important a fireplace is during winter and though it has a proper outlet to let the smoke escape, some of it does enter the room. With optimum usage during winter months, that comes to around $25 per year. Wood-burning stoves may keep you warm and cozy, but they can also be hazardous to your health. Other than headaches, prolonged exposure to fireplace smoke can cause eye irritation, respiratory tract infections, nausea, dullness and in extreme cases even cancer. Some people are more sensitive to gases like carbon monoxide, benzene and other hydrocarbons that are emitted when a fireplace burns. « How good does the Chimney Balloon really work? In the meantime, while your fireplace is fixed, you have two options. Wearing a nose mask or covering the nose with a cloth can block the carbon particles and the burning smell and consequently prevent headaches and respiratory infections. If it is closed or even partially open, the smoke will not escape through the chimney causing it to enter the room. How can I tell if I have a vented or vent-free (ventless) gas logs? Otherwise you can make do with centralized heating. Burning damp wood can not only result make it difficult to light the fire but it can also result in smoke as the chimney is not able to draw well due to low heat levels. Main If you own a wooden fireplace, it is important that you periodically get your fireplace checked and serviced by a professional. central heating intake is on the ceiling about 15 feet away in a direct ». So it is advisable to light a fireplace only when it is very cold outside. | Less difference in external and internal temperature. How much does an electric fireplace cost? Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: Nausea; Vomiting; Headaches; Breathlessness; Feeling Dizzy; Chest Pain; Impaired Vision; Stomach Pain; Use Your Wood Burning Stove Safely. (Source) . Moreover since it works on electricity, it does not produce any smoke and so there’s no chance of a headache or any other health issue. 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