Even with the damper closed, there is a draft that escapes into the room. If you have an open chimney, draught-proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £15 a year*. Can anyone suggest how to make or buy a simple block to stop a draft coming in or warm air going out. TOM: That’s true. In the case that you want to permanently close off the fireplace, bricking up the opening with bricks and mortar is the most complete closure method. During the part of the year you are using your wood-burning fireplace, open the damper before you light the fire. The draft is coming through the bottom louvers as well. A draft problem can have many causes; the main ones are explored below with tips to spot and solve each one so you can breathe easier and enjoy your fireplace going forward. JO: Yeah. Some of the draft is coming in around the outside edges of the glass doors (which I assume I can't do anything about) but there is also a lot of cold air coming through the vents above and below the glass doors. How to Block Cold Air From a Chimney. You will stop the cold drafty air in the winter and keep warm humid air from coming in during the summer months. The only possible disadvantage to a chimney-top damper is that it adds a slight restriction to the flue, so a fireplace with a marginal draft may begin to smoke more readily. Check the draft. It regulates draft and prevents the loss of heat up the chimney. If it is still coming down, you must find a way of reversing the draft and getting it to go up. If your flue is closed and you are getting a draft then maybe you can get some kind of draft stopper. Must stop the draft… I have the some vent to the side of my house. To start a fire, you must have the damper in the full-open position. This way you (or the next owner) have the option to have it open or closed at will. How to Open Your Chimney Damper. A fireplace damper clamp, also known as a damper stop, clip or lock, is a device that clamps to a fireplace damper to ensure that the damper always stays in a completely open position and can’t fully close. Drafty Fireplace. Wood-burning fireplaces were a standby in homes for centuries, only being phased out when heating technologies powered by electricity and oil were developed. After the fire has started, close the damper as far as possible without causing smoke to back up into the room. By increasing the height of the fire grate, the fire is closer to the chimney channel, as a result of which, the chimney flue becomes warmer and the draft will improve immediately. You can test the effect of this by raising the fireplace grate or the fire basket with stones. There are many steps you can take to fix such a problem, but understanding the cause of a chimney draft problem is the key. Just as the name suggests, fireplace draft guards and covers block the fireplace opening when not in use or even when closed for the season. Two-sided fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular in new and renovated homes today. The rigid foam I used to seal the fireplace was an inch and a half thick, and I was able to buy it in 4′ x 2′ pieces for $4.15 each. If you have a traditional wood-burning fireplace then you should be able to close the flue. If your damper is adjustable, gradually close it as the fire dies down to maintain a draft and limit cold air from coming down. Close Fireplace Damper When Fire Is Completely Out. Also, if there are cracks in the flue, the likelihood of pulling smoke from an operating flue to an adjacent one— which has the chimney-top damper closed—may increase. Give your fireplace a quick makeover with peel-and-stick tiles. Open the fireplace damper all the way when starting a fire. If necessary to keep the fire burning well and smoke-free, you may adjust the damper into a semi-open position. Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £20 a year*. If your vents do not have an open/close feature then you need to cover the vents when the fireplace is not in use. Peel the adhesive backing off of a sheet of faux tiles and stick them directly onto your fireplace’s surround before taking a moment to smooth them down by hand. Rules: Must be wife approved (so not too ugly). I have a wood burning fireplace insert, that is not currently being used. This step will reduce the volume of heated air that escapes your house along with the exhaust gases. Choose a color that is similar or complementary to the existing fireplace. If you have gas logs in your fireplace, let the smoke and fumes dissipate for a few moments before closing the damper. Build a Fireplace Insert Draft Stopper. There is a really cold draft coming in through our fireplace even though the flue and the glass doors are closed. I have a superior woodburning fireplace. If your fireplace is equipped with glass or metal doors, make sure they are closed before you go to bed. 2. Let the fire burn for a few minutes then adjust the damper so that it is partially closed (about half way) to see how it affects the fire. If you start a fire when the damper is closed, you’ll realize the mistake quickly when the room fills up with smoke. When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. Keeping your damper working properly is important. You need to leave an air ventilation opening to keep from getting air pockets backing up from the top of the chimney. See more ideas about fireplace cover, fireplace, unused fireplace. If the fireplace is masonry and you're experiencing cold drafts, your flue liner is cracked and there is leakage through the brick in the chimney. For many homeowners chimney length and draft is unsubstantial as long as the smoke leaves the house and the bricks stay in tact. From the outside there is a fresh air intake on the chimney and there is a metal chimney exiting the top of the old stucco chimney. Common Solutions for Fireplace Drafts Fireplace Cover/Draft Guard. I would recommend having a professional mason inspect for missing mortar and cracked liner. Viewable from two adjacent rooms, it is essentially a part of the wall that has a see-through fireplace. Now that it's cold in my area (27F), I've noticed that there is quite a draft coming from the fireplace. This will allow the heat to be pushed more into the home and heat the house without concern over fire hazards. Unless you have a vent-free fireplace, the first step you should take before lighting a fire in a wood-burning fireplace or gas fireplace is to open the damper. There are actually two distinct (though related) factors affecting chimney performance: draft and capacity. I am having a similar problem. This structure can add a sense of luxurious charm to the home, transforming an ordinary interior into a cozy, fashionable space. It depends on what kind of fireplace you have. Draft is the force behind flow, while capacity is the capability to handle flow. If you have an old wood-burning stover, or even one converted to gas logs, you likely know this old fireplace can be the source of cold air and drafts in the winter. Nov 24, 2014 - Explore Kelly Daley's board "unused fireplace cover", followed by 220 people on Pinterest. In the winter (Alberta) we get huge drafts coming in the grills of our gas fireplace insert. Under no circumstances can you light the fire with the draft coming down. When surveying the interior of the fireplace, I noticed the installation bracket for the glass doors on the front of the fireplace stuck out inside the fireplace. But you have a standard gas log in a fireplace that used to be a regular fireplace; used to be a wood burner? 1. Poor chimney draft can be extremely frustrating, especially when you light a fire in the fireplace and you get smoke pouring into your living room. A removable fireplace draft stopper is one possible solution. The root of your chimney draft problem may be one of many. Hi, I have a small open fire that is in constant use every night in the winter but obviously not in use much by day and in the summer. Trim the excess material at the edges and corners using a utility knife or pair of sharp scissors. If you have experienced a cold breeze in a room while sitting in front of the fireplace you are probably wondering why is the vented gas fireplace drafty. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you have to be sure that all of the embers have burned out before you close the damper; smoldering embers can put off … Once the fire is burning and a good draft is established, close the throat damper slowly, (this applies to wood fires only, not gas!) Light a match near the opening of the flue and see if the draft is coming down or going up. Not a very nice place, full of bugs and spiders, soot, ashes and creosote. 5.Increase the height of the fireplace grate or of the fire basket. Fireplace Draft Problems Stop drafts, save money! But don't close it completely until the fire is out. Sealing off the fireplace but not to the point that the fireplace gives off smoke. If you want an easy way to temporarily block and unused fireplace flue to stop a draft, you should consider installing a top sealing damper. After a few fires in your fireplace, the damper will not seal the flue and you have a draft. How to use the fireplace damper to control the fire. The damper handle is usually located inside the chimney, above the firebox. how to block off draft from fireplace? A functional fireplace adds both visual and decorative warmth to a room, no matter how cold the air outdoors. According to my manual you are supposed to be able to close that vent. However, a properly functioning chimney is vital to both your heating performance and your safety.. Rigid Foam Insulation. I've noticed it when it's not in use, especially at night but it seems inconsistent and not necessarily predictable by the temperature or audible wind. How can I cover/insulate the fireplace to stop the draft? 3. Several styles are commercially available and many simply attach to the metal facing of your fireplace with magnets. Draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures – so you may be able to turn down your thermostat, saving even more on your energy bills. How to Close Off Fireplaces. 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