Does An Outdoor Fireplace Need A Smoke Shelf

Look above the damper for evidence of a smoke shelf and look at the walls of the smoke chamber if possible.

Does an outdoor fireplace need a smoke shelf.

Cool outside air travels down the flue strikes the smoke shelf mixes with warm air from inside the room or firebox and returns up the chimney taking fireplace smoke with it. On exterior fireplace any wind will down draft your fireplace and probably force smoke out. Poor draft is the possible implication. It is however a standard part of most masonry fireplaces.

Kreh sr an author and masonry consultant in frederick maryland replies. Advice is free lessons begin at 75 bucks an hour. 1 answer from this member. Since most of these fireplaces draw quite nicely the need for a smoke shelf is questionable.

Factory built fireplaces do not usually have a smoke shelf or smoke chamber above the damper. Do i need to parge my smoke chamber if it s an out door fireplace with nothing combustible whatsoever. Rod sarmardin on october 29 2019 at 9 44 pm. To reduce eliminate the problem a smoke shelf must be put in in all wood burning fireplace calculate your flue size properly and chimney should be high enough to help with air flow basically hire a mason.

I have an outdoor fireplace that needs parging to smooth out the corbelled bricks in the smoke chamber. The smoke shelf serves the same function of helping to create a convection loop inside the flue regardless of whether the chimney and fireplace are inside or outside the house. A smoke shelf is a design feature not necessarily needed but when incorporated into the firebox design it is certainly a plus.