*SaL* questioned:
I tried to cover up the fireplace with a cardboard taped all around it but the room is still cold. Is there some way to close the fireplace from the inside since i dont really use it??
I tried to cover up the fireplace with a cardboard taped all around it but the room is still cold. Is there some way to close the fireplace from the inside since i dont really use it??
Thank you!
Agnes
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light a fire….ok ok make sure the damper is closed all the way and then seal the area over the damper with plastic.
It depends on what kind of fireplace you have. If you have a traditional wood-burning fireplace then you should be able to close the flue. If your flue is closed and you are getting a draft then maybe you can get some kind of draft stopper.
If you have a vented gas fireplace, like mine then you can stuff some towels or something in the vent. Just last night I had to place a high-heat caulking around the fireplace because cold air was pouring in. It worked. Just remember on all fireplaces to remove any obstructions you place in it before you light your next fire!
Most drafts from the fireplace are made from wind traveling down the chimney itself, during the winter this can be most annoying since hot air rises thus allowing your heat to escape your house/apartment. Most chimney’s that i have seen have a sort of door called a “flu”. But it can sometimes be diffcult to find the lever to really open and close it….I would suggest getting a excellent flashlight and look up into the chimney to find it there should be a lever of some sort that you can pull/push to open and close the “flu” if your chimney is not equipped with one i sugggest making something that you can cover the hole in the chimney with…..Beware when you start moving your arms/hands around in the chimney because your will get VERY dirty….
Hope i helped you with your problem
Very sorry about the terrible grammer
i would close the opening in the chimney while you are not using it and remember to open it back up when you o use it and all if that is alredy being done i would call a heating and air place and they should be able to give you some hint s on how to do it
The simple answer is to close the damper but they are often warped and not functioning as they should.
There is a product called a Chimney Balloon that is inflated in the chimney cavity that seals it off air tight so drafts can not come down and heat cannot escape.
Your chimney should have a damper on it at the throat of the chimney, (which is just above the firebox). If you have already closed the damper and you do not use the fireplace, stick a batt of roxul insulation into the throat of the chimney.
Roxul is the green insulation and it is made out of slag instead of spun glass and it is not combustible. Just make sure you remove it when you really choose to have a fire, but being non-combustilbe provides a safety factor for us absent minded folk.
Excellent luck.
There has been some conversation about dampers, draft stoppers, and insulation to stop chimney draft in a dormant fireplace. I will go over a few advantages and disadvantages to each solution and score them on a scale of 10 points.
Dampers: as stated before dampers are metal flappers that are your first line of defense. Because they are metal and are often heated and cooled they tend to corrode and warp making them less efficient. they score a 3.
Inflatable fireplace draft stoppers come in 2 varieties. The black kind that prop up against the flue and the clear kind that are inflated inside the flue (Chimney Pillow Type) either above or below the damper. Either one has a saftey feature that releases them from their installed location if a fire is inadvertantly lighted under them.
The clear kind seal off the best since they are made to the exact size of your fireplace flue and they tuck up in the flue out of sight. The downside is you have to really measure your flue opening to order one. Score:9
The black type (Draftstopper) come in 2 sizes and prop against the closed damper. The downside is you have to cut slits in it to make room for damper hardware which reduce its efficiency and it is a very visible eyesore in the fireplace. Score:7
Insulation batting is also an inexpensive option, but it is messy and hard to install and uninstall and often leaves residue in the fireplace. It can be very dangerouse if a fire is inadvertantly made under them. This should not be an option if you have a gas fireplace. Score 5
If you like to use your fireplace a lot there is a lock top variety of damper that is installed on the top of the chimney. This works well but it is expensive to install and inside heated air tends to collect in the chimney and then cool and sink downward making a drafty feel at the hearth. Score:7
I hope this helps.