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uk Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
your fireplace or stove is pushing smoke back into the room

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Stop using the fireplace or stove now, open doors and windows if you can do so safely, and get everyone into fresh air. Treat it as a possible carbon monoxide risk until the appliance, flue, and ventilation have been checked.

Do not do these things

  • Do not keep the fire burning to “clear it”.
  • Do not try repeated re-lights.
  • Do not close vents or seal the room to stop the smell.
  • Do not ignore a carbon monoxide alarm.
  • Do not ignore symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, weakness, fainting, or collapse.
  • Do not climb onto the roof or put anything into a hot or smoky flue or chimney.
  • Do not run extractor fans, bathroom fans, or a tumble dryer to pull smoke out.
  • Do not use the fireplace or stove again until a competent person says it is safe.

What to do now

  1. Stop the appliance if it is safe. Stop adding fuel. Close the stove door if there is one. If it is a gas fire, turn it off if you can do so safely, and turn off the gas supply at the meter if you know how and it is safe, unless the meter is in a cellar or another unsafe place.
  2. Avoid ignition risks if you smell gas. Do not smoke, light matches, or turn electrical switches on or off.
  3. Ventilate and leave. Open doors and windows if you can do so without staying in smoke, then move everyone, including pets, outside or to fresh air.
  4. Call 999 for severe symptoms or active fire danger. Call 999 if anyone is struggling to breathe, suddenly confused, weak, has chest pain, has fainted, has collapsed, or if there are flames, sparks, roaring from the chimney, or rapidly worsening smoke or heat.
  5. Get medical advice for possible carbon monoxide exposure. If anyone may have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning but it is not a 999 emergency, call NHS 111 and say there may have been carbon monoxide exposure.
  6. Call the gas emergency number if gas or carbon monoxide is suspected. If you smell gas, a gas appliance is involved, a carbon monoxide alarm has sounded, or you suspect a gas or carbon monoxide emergency, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 from outside or from a safe place.
  7. Turn off likely backdraft drivers once you are safe. Leave extractor fans, bathroom fans, and tumble dryers off. Do not restart the fire to test whether the smoke has stopped.
  8. Arrange a check before using it again. For a gas fire, use a Gas Safe registered engineer. For a wood burner, stove, open fire, flue, or chimney, use a HETAS Registered Installer, HETAS Approved Chimney Sweep, or other competent solid-fuel professional to check for blockage, bird nesting, soot build-up, flue damage, poor ventilation, pressure problems, or installation faults.
  9. Do not re-enter if you have been told not to. Wait for advice from the emergency services, gas emergency service, or the professional attending.

What can wait

  • You do not need to diagnose the exact cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide today whether the problem is wind, a cold flue, a blocked chimney, poor ventilation, a closed damper, or an appliance fault.
  • You do not need to clean soot immediately if the room may still be unsafe.
  • You do not need to decide about repairs, replacement, insurance, or longer-term heating plans until the immediate safety checks are done.

Important reassurance

Smoke coming back into a room can happen even when a fireplace or stove has seemed fine before. Stopping use, getting fresh air, and arranging a proper check is a sensible safety response, not an overreaction.

Scope note

These are first steps for the next minutes to hours. Later decisions about flue condition, ventilation, chimney work, appliance repair, cleaning, or insurance may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Follow emergency services, NHS, gas emergency, and qualified professional advice for your situation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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