smoke chamber

mechanism

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A smoke chamber is a component of a fireplace, situated between the top of the throat and the bottom of the flue. It serves as a transitional space within the chimney system.1

The chimney itself is designed to carry smoke away from a fireplace or furnace and to create a draft that supplies air for the fire. A typical domestic chimney comprises three parts: the throat, the smoke chamber, and the flue. The smoke chamber, located above the throat and damper, narrows towards the top. Its function is to slow down drafts and act as a temporary reservoir for smoke, particularly when gusts of wind might otherwise push smoke back into the room.2

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chimney
The smoke chamber narrows uniformly toward the top; it slows down drafts and acts as a reservoir for smoke trapped in the chimney by gusts across the chimney top. The flue, the main length of the chimney, is usually of masonry, often brick, and metal-lined. Vertical…
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The smoke chamber narrows uniformly toward the top; it slows down drafts and acts as a reservoir for smoke trapped in the chimney by gusts across the chimney top. The flue, the main length of the chimney, is usually of masonry, often brick, and metal-lined. Vertical…
Read More