Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Smoke when glass doors are opened

I have a lake cottage built circa 1900. The fireplace was cleaned and inspected fall 2004 by a chimmey sweep professional. He reported everything was is great condition. Since then, I've only had a dozen or so, evening fires. This summer I removed the glass door surround and painted the brick and wood trim. I didn't re-caulk the gasket around the door frame. In my first couple of fires this month... Everything is great until I open the glass doors during the middle of the burn. Within minutes, the living room's ceiling gets a layer of smoke an inch or so thick. If I leave the doors closed, I get very little smoke in the house. I've noticed some "black fingers" of soot around the door frame. Again, the fire burns fine... it's only when I open the doors to feel the warmth or add a log, ect. Any ideas or thoughts? Could just caulking the frame fix this whole problem?

I have a lake cottage built circa 1900. The fireplace was cleaned and inspected fall 2004 by a chimmey sweep professional. He reported everything was is great condition. Since then, I've only had a dozen or so, evening fires. This summer I removed the glass door surround and painted the brick and wood trim. I didn't re-caulk the gasket around the door frame. In my first couple of fires this month... Everything is great until I open the glass doors during the middle of the burn. Within minutes, the living room's ceiling gets a layer of smoke an inch or so thick. If I leave the doors closed, I get very little smoke in the house. I've noticed some "black fingers" of soot around the door frame. Again, the fire burns fine... it's only when I open the doors to feel the warmth or add a log, ect. Any ideas or thoughts? Could just caulking the frame fix this whole problem?


Try to restore everything as it was before. My guess, it will stop. Make sure the damper is fully opened as well.


BB

You may be getting a reverse draft when the glass doors are open. Try opening a window a bit when you open the glass doors. Also, if there are any ceiling fans on, this could be the problem. Good luck.