Just make sure to remove anything you put in the chimney hole before starting any fires. Unsealed fireplaces can really burn through your wallet. Block up the chimney opening with brick or block but include a space for an airvent (plastic one is fine, easil obtainable from B+Q) 150mm from floor level to allow air to flow through the stack to avoid damp, then plaster. Sealing up an unused brick fireplace chimney will save money on your heating bills and increase your comfort level at home.In addition to letting in cold, these chimneys pull hot air out of the house. When it's time to use the chimney again, all you have to do is deflate the plug and pull it out. So in preperation for this winter I made a simple unused chimney insulation. It's hot outside and you turn on your air conditioner. It is relatively simple to insulate a chimney to reduce heat loss now, but not eliminate the possibility of using it again in the future. This … What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? Sealing your older, unused chimney should not be a complicated task as long as attention is paid to prevention of air intrusion, as well as environmental and pest control. However, it all depends on what you want. It should be installed just above the damper, or in the bottom of the smoke shelf. Last year we had our soild fuel boiler replaced by an electric boiler. 37 sold. 5. Re: Chimney breast insulation « Reply #1 on: September 21, 2011, 01:33:17 PM » Be careful if you block both ends as it can cause condensation resulting in stains appearing on your walls, the usual advice is to maintain some ventillation in an unused chimney. Do this from the top and then cover the opening with galvanized sheet metal to prevent water from infiltrating. Apart from a chimney balloon, There are also woolen chimney insulators known as “chimney sheeps.” You can also try old pillows and stuff them in the chimney hole. Free postage. The most important part though is to stop the air flow, so again, what you mention would work, but always make sure to create a good air seal. Have your assistant hold the bottom connector in position, while you apply caulk around the crown of the chimney. I need a bit of advice re the ventilation of unused chimneys. Sealing and insulating the clay flue at the top and bottom of the stack will ensure the job will yield these desired results. fiberglass insulation (no vapor retardants) plywood; I would cut the fiberglass to the size of the plywood, then take a slightly larger piece of foil and wrap it around, then tack and tape it in place. Drafty Fireplace. The air between the liner and the chimney wall will insulate the liner (air is a good insulator) although the liner obviously touches a cold wall in many places. The chimney breast is both the most visible and vital portions of a chimney. When you go to bed at night, you should leave the damper open if there are embers remaining from the fire. Chimney C Caps are a plastic terracotta cap with an bird/insect guard that sits in side the cap. Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Messages: 2 Thanks Received: 0 Location: North Dakota Country: Hello Xerxes, thank you for your reply. The reason for this is the "chimney" or "stack" effect. The rain cannot get in, but it is not sealed air tight, which does allow any inside moisture to slowly get out. Latest Stories. Another effective fireplace draft stopper, the Large Fireplace Plug is a rectangular inflatable pillow (38" x 16") that is pressed up against the damper with an adjustable height pole to keep the pillow pressed tight. Spray foam insulation can be used under the roof and floor, or between the walls with ease. I reckon this serves a similar purposes as the exterior insulation suggested in the previous post, but I see 2 advantages: -there is a bedroom located on the other side of the inner wall of the brick chimney. What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? As such, it can be used to insulate a chimney. All the above advice is for redundant and disused chimneys. I don't consider simply capping the basement end of the chimney, as the furnace installers have done, to be a proper way of dealing with the unused chimney. If the stone or brick is entirely insulated outside it will become part of the interior conditioned space, but if any of it is left exposed from the interior through to the exterior it will continue to conduct heat. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. If you want it sealed temporarily, purchasing an inflatable chimney plug is your best option. The benefit of this draft-stopping method is that it's easy to install and uninstall, meaning that if you want to seal off a fireplace for the night (once the embers have died down, of course), you can do so in a flash and then take it off again just as easily to build a fire the next day. Warm air in your house rises drawing cold air inside through cracks around windows, doors, vents and other places. When retiring a chimney, many chimney experts recommend using Roxul, a hydrophobic mineral wool insulation, which means that it will dry out if it ever gets wet. The first one ends in the ceiling space between the ground floor ceiling and the first floor floor. £29.99 to £39.99. In between the higher and lower pressure zones, there is a "neutral" pressure zone. If you forget to close the flue when you're not using the fireplace, the loss of heated air continues. If your chimney is completely unused, it will need to be ventilated at high and low levels to prevent any further damp occurring. There are ways of extracting more heat from the flue when using a brick chimney but they do involve making absolutely sure the steel flue is gas tight and secure and it does need Rockwool insulation around the flue in that portion above the house walls and knocking out bricks on the inside. Insulate your chimney. Look up into the fireplace opening and note the shape of the opening just below the damper. My question concerns the now unused chimney, which has been dripping condensation into my basement all winter. Frank . I really don’t understand why the issue of heat loss up chimneys is not more high profile. How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home. The chimney balloon is an inflatable, balloon-type seal. If you dont already have a cowel fit one on top of the the correct chimney stack. Replace the damper. Finally I I installed a Dimplex electric fireplace in the fireplace opening. Answer this question. The vermiculite will then absorb the moisture, and when you heat up your metal flue, steam may start burping vermiculite out of the top of your chimney (I've read of this, though don't know if it's true). I would place this over the fire retardant fireplace cover that I already have. Now you have two options: Use Text to type in Caution: Fireplace Sealed. Whether to insulate it on a permanent or temporary basis. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. One study estimates that as many as 80% of American households inadvertently leave their flue damper open after the fire dies down. It fits most any masonry fireplace. No need to have airflow through an unused chimney. Only one chimney is still in use for a multifuel burner, one was sealed many years ago while the other two have vents into the bedrooms where fireplaces used to exist. Hold in position, and then pull the connection band around the liner, securing it to the top plate. Is that safe? Sorry for the inconvenience. Insulating unused chimney (10 Posts) Add message | Report. Using a long stick a pushed the first one about 4 m ( 12 ft) down the chimney. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Having an insulated chimney plays an important role in any chimney construction or modification. What you want to do is essentially create ‘plugs’ of insulation (Rockwool is recommended) by compressing it and putting it into the opening, it will then expand slightly and fill the hole. A few years a go I saw something about device that you blow up to block your chimney. Sealing your older, unused chimney should not be a complicated task as long as attention is paid to prevention of air intrusion, as well as environmental and pest control. I stuffed some batting from insulation up into the fireplace as we don't use it..also installed glass doors. Not only will it save you from a steep expenditure on fuel and heating, but it also will probably save your life. Instead of insulating the exterior of the brick chimney, we were actually advised to fill the interior cavity with loose fill insulation. However, it is often not difficult to insulate a liner (just adds cost) so it is up to you. Issue 134. SolidWallJim. Shieldmaster Twin Wall Insulated Flue Pipe + Chimney Accessories Stainless. Note: If you do not have a metal screen, you will have to improvise. You should then secure th… I’ve seen plastic balloons, umbrellas and chimney ‘sheep’ ... or we could use an old pillow Sat 3 Nov 2018 05.27 EDT First published on Sat 3 Nov 2018 03.00 EDT Share on Facebook This becomes particularly expensive when you have a strong wind blowing across the chimney providing an express route for your hot air to the sky. We have a chimney in our living room that seems to be completely open (you can feel a massive draught when you stick your hand up there and the wind is making quite a noise blowing over the top of the chimney). I would place this over the fire retardant fireplace cover that I already have. This article offers a variety of methods for sealing your fireplace, as well as seven bonus tips about reducing fireplace draftiness. I would probably frame around the existing fireplace in a manner that would allow a future owner to resurrect the fireplace. After capping the chimney top, the next step is to look for a way of insulating its bottom. Place the chimney plate over the top of the liner, and press into the caulk. Make any adjustments to your measurements so that it fits tightly in place. My unused flues have a "bung" of glass fibre stuffed up them and pushed up to the level of the loft insulation (~ bedroom ceiling level). Discussion in 'Building' started by overlandrover, 14 Apr 2007. overlandrover. reduce droppings from potential chimney nest-makers. Insulating unused chimney (10 Posts) Add message | Report. Rigid Foam Insulation minnow from Seattle on September 30, 2010: great hub! Question What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? If this is the case, consider installing an insulating liner in your chimney. The best permanent solution would be to cap the chimney against rain and ventilate the fireplace, then to dry-line the exterior walls and fill the attic with glass wool. Choose carefully between Polyisocyanurate, EPS & XPS or Mineral Wool & Hemp as the wrong choice can reduce insulati…, Crawlspaces are becoming rare for new home construction in USA & Canada. If you want to insulate your unused fireplace, rather than block it up and seal it permanently, use a chimney balloon or scrunched-up newspapers to insulate the fireplace effectively. Remember that if left unchecked, fires present great risks to your personal safety and your belongings. Yet having an open flue is like leaving a window open all the time. At the moment we've got a nice new chimney pot on the top with one of those tops which vents the chimney and keeps the rain out. Search (0) Home; Shop . This leads to a slight difference in air pressure between the higher and lower zones in your house. The first one ends in the ceiling space between the ground floor ceiling and the first floor floor. One of he best methods for closing up the bottom of the chimney depends on whether you want it sealed permanently or temporarily. Cut out the pattern and put it in place to see if it fits. Cover the entire stack of bricks with a layer of rigid insulation (rockwool or expanded polystyrene) and half inch-thick plywood, which can then be covered to match the rest of the house. As I stated in my first post vermiculite chips are the preferred method of insulating voids in & around flues - and serve a double purpose - as they poured into the chimney (a special funnel can be purchased or made) & tamped down firm. However, it all depends on what you want. If your damper is near the firebox, you can use insulation to seal the chimney. This one from Amazon features a fire-resistant (not fireproof) Pavenex fabric cover. However, if you want to permanently close up your chimney, cutting out a foam insulation plug and placing it in the bottom of the chimney and caulking around it is the best method. Fireplaces are huge energy wasters when used incorrectly. £9.99 to £23.99. reduce the amount of other debris that might fall into your chimney. Use a color printer to print this color picture. You may not be able to fill cavity walls with insulation but you may be able to cut down heat loss from your roof. Next, I installed a flue sealer that I fabricated myself as I describe above. Fortunes are spent on loft and cavity wall insulation, double glazing and exterior cladding. There's no need to fit this particular type. Creosote buildup in your chimney can drastically reduce the efficiency of your fireplace. Stainless Steel Stove Pipe Cowl / Metal Chimney Cap / Flue Liner Pot. Capping an unused chimney/flue. We have a gas fireplace that is rarely used and a standard chimney flue system on a house built in 1997. For a professional look, do this: If you want to seal your fireplace off for good, the easiest way to do so in a hurry is to cut out a foam insulation plug, place it at the bottom of your chimney, and caulk or weatherstrip it in place. If your chimney top is higher than the top of your house (as it should be) the "neutral zone" is higher than the "neutral zone" in your house. Learn how to stop cold air from coming down the chimney. One of the best ways (in my opinion) is to use a Chimney C Cap. I would probably frame around the existing fireplace in a manner that would allow a … EarSlaps Tue 17-Nov-15 18:59:50. Vermiculite or Micafill: I … Chimney Insulation. You’ll then be in a position to begin tackling the problem. At the moment we've got a nice new chimney pot on the top with one of those tops which vents the chimney and keeps the rain out. Battic Door is the US distributor of the fireplace plug. Near the top of the chimney, the pressure is higher, near the bottom it is lower, and in between is the "neutral" zone. Job Done. This will allow air to pass through the chimney and help prevent problems caused by moisture. This brick wall encases the flu and other functional parts, providing extra insulation and major structural support. If you seal up more than one fireplace, you can save even more. EarSlaps Tue 17-Nov-15 18:59:50. The one shown here is 12" x 12" (medium) and fits many chimney flues. xerxes, 15 Mar 2008 #2. When installing a new liner for your heating appliance — whether it is a furnace, hot water heater, wood-burning insert or stove, or existing fireplace — consider insulating the liner. When it comes to the former, do use an inflatable plug, which in this case is done internally on the flue. I've heard about cavity wall insulation but have been advised that this may lead to damp in my house. Click on that and the text will change to white on a black background. Fortunes are spent on loft and cavity wall insulation, double glazing and exterior cladding. This makes it an ideal insulation material for use in areas that experience high temperatures. I really don’t understand why the issue of heat loss up chimneys is not more high profile. Holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are much harder to locate and usually cause bigger problems. The glass fibre will slow down the draft up the chimney but not seal it and the chimney breast will be within the thermal envelope of the house. And it's fairly easy to uninstall. Ultimately, nobody can deny the importance of proper chimney insulation. As such, it can be used to insulate a chimney. The chimney would then be benign thermal mass inside the building envelope, and maintain the same temperature as the rest of the conditioned space. We like to use the fire every now and then, but most of the time all the warm air escapes up it. But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Keep the warmth in your home with a Chimney Sheep draught excluder. This was a few years ago so it might not be the correct way now strappy, Jul 4, 2008 #2. nextlonestar New Member. It is often installed in gaps around the chimney and flue to prevent airflow that can … Galvanised Metal Chimney Cowl / Flue Liner Cap / Duct Plug Stove Pipe Rain Cover. The air between the liner and the chimney wall will insulate the liner (air is a good insulator) although the liner obviously touches a cold wall in many places. Even with the fireplace damper closed, there are air leaks around the edges of the damper. The technician that fitted the electric boiler cut back the flue the the ceiling, filled part of the flue with insulation, and then applied cement to the underside to seal it. Does an Unused Chimney Need Ventilation? I need a bit of advice re the ventilation of unused chimneys. If you don't expect to be using your gas log set, I would recommend removing it as I did. One of the best ways (in my opinion) is to use a Chimney C Cap. I don't consider simply capping the basement end of the chimney, as the furnace installers have done, to be a proper way of dealing with the unused chimney. Now use the rectangular select tool and select the text you just created. Learn how to stop cold air from coming down the chimney. How can I do that in way where I may be able to use it again in the future if we need it? Fiberglass insulation is naturally fire-resistant. Get the Chimney Bottom Insulated. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. What’s the best way to block up our chimney during cold weather? Fit the cap over the top of the place, and clamp into position. As the fire burns down and out, heated room air continues to be drawn up the chimney. To stop your chimney from being a major source of heat loss you need to insulate inside the chimney from the top and bottom, in addition to insulating the exterior. Install a heat-exchange system. Depending on your level of interest in DIY home improvement, you have two options: Here are three types of masonry fireplace draft sealers that you can buy through Amazon: Note: Chimney balloons go by many different names, including chimney pillow, fireplace pillow, fireplace blocker, flue blocker, draft stopper, and fireplace plug. Reduce energy bills and keep the heat in by blocking your unused chimneys. By installing batt insulation in the chimney and not using spray foam, it is easily disassembled if needed so you may be able to use the existing chimney for a wood stove or a gas or wood fireplace insert in the future if you so desire. Question What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? Ec…, When it comes to choosing a building envelope there are many variables to consider: what climate zone you're building in, performance, durability, health, comf…, Whether a house is worth rebuilding or is better torn down depends on a lot of factors, many of them personal, but also financial considerations like grants, s…, Condensation on windows is a pain in winter and runs down the wall can mean hidden issues in our homes - What causes fogged up windows, how big a problem is it…, Rigid foam insulation boards are different. I think it is a good idea to place a small label on the fireplace noting that it is sealed. The fireplace flue can be a major source of energy loss. However, it is often not difficult to insulate a liner (just adds cost) so it is up to you. Plug the bottom opening with insulation as well, then seal it to prevent air leakage. An error occurred. Use an x-acto knife to trim around the text. Happyhomeowner. 5. See more ideas about fireplace draft stopper, draft stopper, fireplace cover. This difference causes an upward draft in the chimney, sucking warm room air around the edges of the closed flue damper. Because we won’t use the fireplaces, we have two, I decided to seal both up with rigid foam insulation. https://discover.hubpages.com/living/Replace-Propa... reduce noise coming through your chimney opening from outside. Usually unused chimneys are capped off with a bent sheet metal covering and perhaps a wire strap or weight on the top. Posted on 25th November 2012 by Sally Phillips. Insulating your whole house professionally can seem expensive to some. Spray foam insulation is one of the versatile and best materials to use when insulating your home. Contrary to pre-fab fireplaces and chimney systems, masonry fireplaces are built on-site and are part of a home's structural design. So a lot depends on how your chimney is set-up. In the heating season, with the flue damper closed, some of your valuable heated air is escaping up the chimney. You closed all windows and doors to make the system work better and save energy. Draught Exclusion & Insulation. Rolls of foam insulation are cheap, says Brennand, and three rolls of … If you keep the fireplace open then a register plate will be needed to retain the insulation in the flue. Save energy by sealing off an unused fireplace with insulation. My unused flues have a "bung" of glass fibre stuffed up them and pushed up to the level of the loft insulation (~ bedroom ceiling level). Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. The main reason we propose exterior insulation would be to create an envelope around the chimney to eliminate any thermal bridging. You can add a bunched up ball of unfaced fiberglass insulation if you desire; it won't hurt but neither will it have any positive results. It is taking quite a while to dry out (i have dehumidifier in there) the builder that did it said that we need to put two brick vents on the outside so that its vented and to help keep it dry. Learn how to seal your fireplace and save your hard-earned money! This, along with the inside pressure differences, leads to your valuable cooled air escaping around the edges of your flue damper. In the right hands, the treatment of chimney damp is quick and easy. As early versions o…. Answer: You can purchase one the available metal fireplace closers that are on the market. It is often installed in gaps around the chimney and flue to prevent airflow that can siphon the heat away from the interior of the building. We have a chimney in our living room that seems to be completely open (you can feel a massive draught when you stick your hand up there and the wind is making quite a noise blowing over the top of the chimney). This of course would need to be done by certified professionals, and only if the existing chimney is structurally solid. We have also come across people insulating their chimneys using tea towels and newspaper in the past – which again as flammable materials are a really bad idea. Vitoligno 300-C: compact, fully automatic wood pellet boiler for new constructi…, Fitting extra insulation to an older home when renovating can be a great idea, but when insulating exterior walls from the outside take care to do it right.