Advice Needed, Fireplace vs. Oven

[adman2u]

I built my fireplace about four years ago. It backs up to prevailing wind. I made the firebox about 8" deeper than guidlines I found in sunset book. I also made the chimney really big like about 30 X 18. THe firebox opening is 42 inches wide. The unit is about 7.5 feet high so not a lot of smoke clearance. It rarely smokes us out and almost never once its hot. I need about a 15mph wind to cause any smoking. BUT I'm in FL so heating is not an issue 90% of the time. In fact for dinner parties in fall I lite it at the last minute so masonry doesn't heat up and radiate.