SMOKE CHAMBERS
 

A smoke chamber is an area above your firebox designed to make your chimney start to draft. Sometimes this area can start to fall apart. Ideally you would like to have a nice smooth smoke chamber wall without any crack or missing pieces. If the opening is large enough a mason can reach in and trowel in a new coat using Chamber Coat, however that is usually not the case. When the smoke chamber is not accessible we use a system called  Heat Shield. Heat Shield is a name brand for a system that we use to spray the smoke chamber with Cerfractory Foam. Cerfractory Foam is a stucco like substance that has a bonding agent already mixed in and is made especially for smoke chamber applications. We spray into the smoke chamber using a air compressor a container resembling a pressure cooker and a long wand that fits into the narrow damper opening. It is able to reach the areas that can't be reached by hand. The finished product is a smooth smoke chamber and smoke shelf that allows the least resistance for maximum draft. It also seals any cracks, missing pieces, makes it easier to clean and extends the overall life of your chimney.