So, my wood insert is driving me insane. it is smoking when I open the door in a major way. I can see that air is getting in and smoke is coming out the chimney - so what is going wrong?

Is the damper open ? Is the wood seasoned ? Try opening a window to see if that helps. It could be that you don't have sufficient air flow. Those are the usual culprits.

That would seem to be it - though not sure how to fix it! Had windows open, dampner is set to open but am wondering if it has come away from the actual part that slides open and closed.

Its minus 14 or something here today and I am so cold! Bloody fire!

Get a fresh air supply installed (3" or 4" ducting) from the outside to near the insert. If it is on an outside wall this is pretty easy, if not and you have a basement, not too hard, if you have solid floors, harder. You are likely getting a vacuum in the room (or negative pressure in Canadian). Fresh air supply will fix it.

I'm with Aviator, I took the old ducting pipes out, and am in the process of getting new ones put in. Don't know how long yours have been in place, but they are I am told a magnet for squirrels, who like to nest in the corners. In this house this has evidently been a problem in the past. Best of luck.

Our insert has a cold air feedducted directly to the damper from outside. Weve has problems with wasp nests in the cold air intake in the past...

Could also be a bird nest partially blocking the flue.
That's what ours was.

All sorted (whilst I was at work thankfully!). Chimney in dire need of a clean. Now have an insert that is burning better than ever before - hurrah!

Should have called me although not sure i could have got there today.

Is your hose long enough? :0)

You should have waited until Christmas.

Having a fat man in a fluffy red suit squashing himself down there would have given it a good sweeping out for free!

Ha ha i had a woman ask how long my hose was once then she kind of laughed when she realized the possible alternative meaning, lucky for her it was a phone conversation so i didn't see her blush.