Does An Outdoor Fireplace Need A Smoke Shelf

The walls of the smoke chamber may have a minimum required thickness of 51 2 or 6 inches.

Does an outdoor fireplace need a smoke shelf.

Masonry fireplaces that do not have a smoke shelf or smooth throat in smoke chamber may suggest amateurish workmanship. 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. Advice is free lessons begin at 75 bucks an hour. Since most of these fireplaces draw quite nicely the need for a smoke shelf is questionable.

Kreh sr an author and masonry consultant in frederick maryland replies. A smoke shelf is a design feature not necessarily needed but when incorporated into the firebox design it is certainly a plus. I seen your you tube video and would like to ask if you have the mixture. I have an outdoor fireplace that needs parging to smooth out the corbelled bricks in the smoke chamber.

On exterior fireplace any wind will down draft your fireplace and probably force smoke out. Factory built fireplaces do not usually have a smoke shelf or smoke chamber above the damper. 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. 1 answer from this member.

Rod sarmardin on october 29 2019 at 9 44 pm. 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. Poor draft is the possible implication.