Spring Allergies vs. Fireplace Smoke: How to Protect Your Lungs

Thousands of residents in southern Tennessee and upper west Georgia struggle with asthma, often triggered by spring allergies. They often stay indoors in the spring, especially in the morning when pollen and dew are in the air. Keeping warm and avoiding smoky environments are essential for preventing an asthma attack. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the warm and cozy ambiance of a fireplace. Here’s how those with allergies and asthma can protect their lungs from fireplace smoke on a crisp spring evening in Chattanooga.

How to Protect Your Lungs This Spring

To enjoy your fireplace without triggering teary eyes or a respiratory flare-up, follow these expert tips:

Choose an Electric Fireplace

It looks like a natural fire, but there is no smoke. That’s the advantage of an electric fireplace. They are available in a wide array of contemporary and trendy styles and adjustable flame settings, making them an ideal choice for anyone with allergies or asthma. 

Install An Insert

Upgrade your open hearth with a high-efficiency wood, gas, or pellet insert and enjoy a smoke-free environment. These EPA-certified sealed-combustion systems are designed to prevent smoke and particulates from entering your home, significantly improving comfort and indoor air quality.

Burn Only Seasoned Hardwood

Never burn “green” or fresh wood, as the high moisture content produces excessive smoke and creosote that can easily irritate sensitive airways. Source local wood that has been dried for at least six months. Seasoned hickory, oak, and cherry are the best firewood for anyone with allergies. They burn cleaner, with less smoke, have low sap content, and are widely available throughout southern Tennessee.

Open the Damper Fully

Make sure your damper is fully open when lighting and maintaining a fire. An open damper is vital for allowing the smoke to vent up the flue. If smoke lingers in the room, even a small amount, it can trigger an immediate allergic or asthma response. When this occurs, contact a certified chimney sweep to check the draft. A flue obstruction or negative air pressure is a common cause of a smoky fireplace.

Get An Annual Chimney Inspection

Cracks in your firebox or chimney (often caused by freeze-thaw cycles) can allow smoke and carbon monoxide to seep into your living spaces instead of venting up the stack. An annual chimney inspection and professional cleaning are vital to ensure your chimney and fireplace operate as clean and efficiently as possible.

Fireplace Solutions for People with Allergies & Asthma

We have great news for those with seasonal allergies and asthma! You can still enjoy the ambiance of a warm & cozy fireplace. Whether you need an inspection and cleaning to ensure your fireplace burns as cleanly as possible or want to install a high-efficiency insert to seal out irritants, the certified team at Chimney Solutions of Chattanooga is here to help you breathe a sigh of relief.

We proudly serve the southern Tennessee and Chattanooga Valley, TN. Contact us to speak with a certified chimney professional by phone or through our contact form or request a free estimate.