Smoke, Grief Follow Fires

Q. Since we moved into our house 17 years ago, we’ve had a problem with smoke coming from our fireplace. I’ve had a hood installed and crack open a window during fires. There are no trees that impede the airflow above the chimney. Chimney sweeps have left my house scratching their heads. When the fire is roaring, there’s no smoke problem, but as it dies out you can see the smoke rolling into the living room. Any ideas on how to fix this?

M.C., Costa Mesa

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A. It’s not surprising that this occurs as the fire is waning, says Tom Larson of Leisure Living Patio and Fireplace Supplies in La Habra.

As the fire roars, lots of heat is rising up through the flue and out the chimney. As it dies down, the chimney cools down and you don’t get the draw of the warm air going up. This is probably the cause, especially if you have a prefabricated system.

You may want to install glass doors on the fireplace; when closed these will force the smoke to rise through the chimney.

It could also be a poorly designed fireplace. The square-inch opening of the fireplace should be at least 10 times greater than the size of the opening of the chimney for efficiency.

The problem could also be related to your furnace. If the furnace turns on as the fire is going out and the house is well insulated, it could be pulling air in from the chimney, and glass doors would help in that case as well.

Also make sure that you’re burning good quality, seasoned hard woods to cut down on the amount of smoke produced.

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Q. A common problem in our 3-year-old development is that all cement work--pathways, patios, etc.--are mottled. They are different shades of light gray and tan, and it spoils the look of the homes.

Is there anything that can be done to correct it?

P.K., San Clemente

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A. It’s not easy getting lots of concrete to have a uniform appearance, says contractor Dave Rillis of Santa Ana.

Much of it is related to the moisture content of the concrete. If one batch is a little drier or wetter than the previous batch, you’ll see a difference in the two. Color can also be affected by the ground underneath the concrete, depending on how well it was prepared.

Other than painting the concrete, you might want to just let it be; over time it will bleach out as it’s exposed to the elements.

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Q. How do you keep an area rug from shifting when it’s sitting on top of carpeting?

N.T., Irvine

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A. There are backings, such as monk cloth, which can be attached to the back of your rug that will prevent it from moving, says Gidon Adlan of Bob’s Shades, Carpet and Linoleum in Orange.

At most housewares shops you can also find find thin rubber mats that go under the rug to keep it from slipping. They’re generally used over smooth floor surfaces, but they could also be used over carpets. However, these tend to wear down over time and can leave quite a mess.