NOW THAT IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, A LOT OF YOU HOMEOWNERS ARE STARTING TO UTILIZE YOUR FIREPLACES MORE AND MORE. AND HOMEOWNERS ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SOME PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST OF SMOKE COMING BACK INTO THE ROOMS WHERE WE HAVE OUR FIREPLACES - AND THERE'S ONE MAJOR CAUSE TO THAT. BACK WHEN WE DID ALL THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS TECHNIQUES OF CLOSING A HOUSE UP VERY TIGHTLY, WE'VE CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH DRAFTING OF THE FIREPLACE FLUE. THE WARM AIR WANTS TO TAKE THE SMOKE UP THE CHIMNEY. BUT AS IT EXITS THROUGH, IT HAS TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THAT AIR OR SUCK AIR FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. A TIGHT HOUSE WON'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. NOW ALSO YOU MAY EVEN BE COMPETING WITH THIS FIREPLACE IF YOU'RE RUNNING AN EXHAUST FAN IN YOUR BATHROOM, IN THE KITCHEN, OR EVEN RUNNING YOUR DRYER. THEY ARE COMPETING WITH THIS FLUE, TRYING TO GET THE SMOKE OUT.

NOW THERE'S A REAL EASY SOLUTION: YOU COULD OPEN A WINDOW. HOWEVER, IF IT'S REALLY COLD OUTSIDE, A LOT OF YOU DON'T WANT TO OPEN A WINDOW. THERE'S EVEN A BETTER WAY AND THAT'S USING AN AIR-TO-AIR EXCHANGER WHICH MECHANICALLY BRINGS IN FRESH AIR FROM THE OUTSIDE SO THAT THIS FIRE HAS COMBUSTIBLE AIR AND IT CAN ACTUALLY EXIT THE CHIMNEY PROPERLY.