Chimney Downdrafts

Ideally, air from a chimney naturally flows from the fireplace (or furnace) up through the chimney and out the top. This flow, called Chimney Draft, is what carries the exhaust and smoke through the chimney and out of the house. A Downdraft condition can exist in a chimney where the natural flow is inverted and travels down the chimney and out into the house. In this scenario, smoke (or a smoky smell) will accumulate inside the building.