A cold plug in your chimney can be an unexpected issue during the winter season. It is a visible plug of cold air that can form in your chimney when temperatures drop significantly, and the chimney is left to go cold. This will result in the flue being plugged, which will push smoke back down and out of your stove.
This can happen overnight during a sudden drop in temperature when your wood burner is not on or when a clear chimney has not been used for a long time. This is more commonly happen in a twin wall flue system as they can be more exposed.
There are measures you can take to limit the risk of a cold plug:
- Leave your stove door open at least 30 minutes before lighting and when not in use.
- Using the top-down method of lighting a fire.
- Starting with a firelighter can be an effective way to warm the flue.
Ideally you want to gently increase the internal temperature of your chimney to remove the plug of cold air.
Your technician will be able to offer further seasonal tips when they complete your installation, annual service or regular chimney sweep.
Contact us for more information.