Chimney repair, cleaning and fireplace service in Rock Lake

Smoke puffing back into the room on windy days, while the fireplace draws fine on calm evenings, points to wind acting on the top of the chimney. In Rock Lake, an Orlando neighborhood with official city boundaries, that pattern is something our technicians can usually trace to the cap, the chimney's height relative to the roof or nearby obstacles.

Wind blowing across or down onto a chimney top can push air back down the flue. It is more likely when the chimney is short, sits below a higher part of the roof or is near a taller building or tree that makes the wind swirl. The house itself also matters: exhaust fans and a tight building can make downdrafts worse by pulling air down the chimney.

There are several ways to deal with it. A cap designed to reduce wind-induced downdraft, sometimes called a wind-directional or draft-inducing cap, can help where a standard cap does not. Extending the flue, where the chimney allows, can lift the top into steadier air. A smoke guard across the top of the opening or glass doors can reduce spillage into the room.

Opening a window slightly on the windward side while the fire is lit sometimes helps too. Our technicians look at your chimney and roof layout before recommending any of these. The basic checks come first. A clogged cap screen, a damper that does not open fully, a partial blockage in the flue or a cold flue can all make a fireplace more sensitive to wind.

We sweep and inspect before recommending anything that costs more. Until it is sorted out, avoid lighting fires on gusty days, and let a fire that is smoking burn down with the damper open. The Rock Lake inspection is free with our family owned and operated company. Each option is written up with its price, and booking within 72 hours after the inspection gets you a 10% discount. Our workmanship warranty covers the work we do.