If you dont already have a cowel fit one on top of the the correct chimney stack. This article offers a variety of methods for sealing your fireplace, as well as seven bonus tips about reducing fireplace draftiness. 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. Do this from the top and then cover the opening with galvanized sheet metal to prevent water from infiltrating. 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. Question What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? In between the higher and lower pressure zones, there is a "neutral" pressure zone. No need to have airflow through an unused chimney. Free postage. Having an insulated chimney plays an important role in any chimney construction or modification. An error occurred. Unsealed fireplaces can really burn through your wallet. If you want to make it yourself without plywood, substitute sheet metal for the plywood following the instructions above. 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. Fit the cap over the top of the place, and clamp into position. All the above advice is for redundant and disused chimneys. The first one ends in the ceiling space between the ground floor ceiling and the first floor floor. There's no need to fit this particular type. Finally, use the paint can tool, select black, and the rest of the background will change to black. 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. Holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are much harder to locate and usually cause bigger problems. I consider this setup effective and safe. How can I do that in way where I may be able to use it again in the future if we need it? xerxes, 15 Mar 2008 #2. Using a long stick a pushed the first one about 4 m ( 12 ft) down the chimney. 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. 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. Sorry for the inconvenience. 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). £29.99 to £39.99. I stuffed some batting from insulation up into the fireplace as we don't use it..also installed glass doors. In the drop-down box, you should see "invert color." After capping the chimney top, the next step is to look for a way of insulating its bottom. Get the Chimney Bottom Insulated. 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 … Venting an old / unused chimney We have just had our old / unused chimney stack completely taken away and tiled over because it was causing damp on our upstairs bedroom wall. 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. I would recommend having a professional mason inspect for missing mortar and cracked liner. When you go to bed at night, you should leave the damper open if there are embers remaining from the fire. 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. Whether to insulate it on a permanent or temporary basis. Save energy by sealing off an unused fireplace with insulation. John enjoys home improvement projects that improve the quality of home living. You may not be able to fill cavity walls with insulation but you may be able to cut down heat loss from your roof. At the bottom, cut a hole into the insulation where the fireplace snout will connect to the rest of the fireplace, and secure this snout using a metal band. 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. This will allow air to pass through the chimney and help prevent problems caused by moisture. 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. FAST & FREE. Issue 134. And it's fairly easy to uninstall. 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. 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. 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). I think it is a good idea to place a small label on the fireplace noting that it is sealed. Asked by Jim Simmons. Learn how to seal your fireplace and save your hard-earned money! 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. Click on that and the text will change to white on a black background. The main reason we propose exterior insulation would be to create an envelope around the chimney to eliminate any thermal bridging. Now you have two options: Use Text to type in Caution: Fireplace Sealed. You’ll then be in a position to begin tackling the problem. You closed all windows and doors to make the system work better and save energy. What’s the best way to block up our chimney during cold weather? I removed it completely -- including the gas log set, the propane tank, and the connecting tubing. The topic ‘insulating an unused chimney?’ is closed to new replies. The fireplace flue can be a major source of energy loss. https://discover.hubpages.com/living/Replace-Propa... reduce noise coming through your chimney opening from outside. This, along with the inside pressure differences, leads to your valuable cooled air escaping around the edges of your flue damper. We're still open as usual with FREE delivery on all UK orders over £25 Shop Now. A hit-and-miss ventilator has a sliding plate which allows you to close it if you want to for any reason. Look up into the fireplace opening and note the shape of the opening just below the damper. Sealing and insulating the clay flue at the top and bottom of the stack will ensure the job will yield these desired results. So a lot depends on how your chimney is set-up. It fits most any masonry fireplace. Chimney Insulation. 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. Fortunes are spent on loft and cavity wall insulation, double glazing and exterior cladding. Vermiculite or Micafill: I have my reservations about these methods. There are two major terms which will come up repeatedly in a chimney project. The bottom ends are not sealed. Capping an unused chimney/flue. This of course would need to be done by certified professionals, and only if the existing chimney is structurally solid. Understanding these two terms is necessary for deciding on the appropriate actions and calculating costs. 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). The bottom is even easier. 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. 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. I would probably frame around the existing fireplace in a manner that would allow a future owner to resurrect the fireplace. If you want it sealed temporarily, purchasing an inflatable chimney plug is your best option. Near the top of the chimney, the pressure is higher, near the bottom it is lower, and in between is the "neutral" zone. Question: How do I close off an unused fireplace without using plywood? This leads to a slight difference in air pressure between the higher and lower zones in your house. Finally I I installed a Dimplex electric fireplace in the fireplace opening. That is where your damper seal will be installed. 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). Cut out the pattern and put it in place to see if it fits. £11.56 to £143.15. As such, it can be used to insulate a chimney. I never thought of sealing off our fireplace but I'll look into it for this winter, how to permanently seal an unused fireplace. EarSlaps Tue 17-Nov-15 18:59:50. This was a few years ago so it might not be the correct way now strappy, Jul 4, 2008 #2. nextlonestar New Member. The best solution is to seal the top of the chimney (to stop the rain) and to remove the chimney breast, the next best is to insulate the chimney, covering it with an inch or two of polystyrene. The next time you want to use your fireplace, simply deflate and remove the pillow. So in preperation for this winter I made a simple unused chimney insulation. 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. Now think about the cooling season. In the heating season, with the flue damper closed, some of your valuable heated air is escaping up the chimney. If you forget to close the flue when you're not using the fireplace, the loss of heated air continues. Not only will it save you from a steep expenditure on fuel and heating, but it also will probably save your life. This makes it an ideal insulation material for use in areas that experience high temperatures. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. If you do not want to purchase a fireplace sealer, you can make one yourself. Free postage. Spray Foam insulation. How to Close an Unused Chimney. How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home. 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. 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. Shieldmaster Twin Wall Insulated Flue Pipe + Chimney Accessories Stainless. 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. True, not insulating the exterior keeps the aesthetic the same, however, depending on how the chimney integrates with the wall of the house, I would be concerned that the stone or brick would still act as a thermal bridge. Dec 17, 2014 - Explore Tamara Verushka's board "Fireplace draft stopper" on Pinterest. See more ideas about fireplace draft stopper, draft stopper, fireplace cover. Now use the rectangular select tool and select the text you just created. After tieing the top of each plasticbag, I connected them all together with a string. Warm air in your house rises drawing cold air inside through cracks around windows, doors, vents and other places. The chimney balloon is an inflatable, balloon-type seal. In the right hands, the treatment of chimney damp is quick and easy. If you seal up more than one fireplace, you can save even more. A NOTE ON SEALING OFF THE CHIMNEY WITHOUT VENTILATION: If you just cap off the top and insulate the bottom, “pumping” will happen. If you have one or more masonry fireplaces in your home, you can save big money on your heating bills by sealing them off when not in use (or permanently, if you never plan to use them). Vermiculite or Micafill: I … According to the U.S. Department of Energy, by sealing and weatherstripping fireplaces, a typical homeowner can reduce air leaks by up to 14% and save as much as $275 a year. Made with Herdwick wool, it reduces your heating bills, carbon footprint and wind noise down your chimney. I need a bit of advice re the ventilation of unused chimneys. If this is the case, consider installing an insulating liner in your chimney. Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! Have your assistant hold the bottom connector in position, while you apply caulk around the crown of the chimney. 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. EarSlaps Tue 17-Nov-15 18:59:50. 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. Question: I have a gas fireplace which I want to close off. Answer: You can purchase one the available metal fireplace closers that are on the market. 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. If your damper is near the firebox, you can use insulation to seal the chimney. Insulating unused chimney (10 Posts) Add message | Report. It should be installed just above the damper, or in the bottom of the smoke shelf. This one from Amazon features a fire-resistant (not fireproof) Pavenex fabric cover. It's hot outside and you turn on your air conditioner. Discussion in 'Building' started by overlandrover, 14 Apr 2007. overlandrover. One study estimates that as many as 80% of American households inadvertently leave their flue damper open after the fire dies down. Usually unused chimneys are capped off with a bent sheet metal covering and perhaps a wire strap or weight on the top. I used a total of seven plastic bags, each filled with some insulation material. Remember that if left unchecked, fires present great risks to your personal safety and your belongings. We like to use the fire every now and then, but most of the time all the warm air escapes up it. reduce the amount of other debris that might fall into your chimney. 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. The reason for this is the "chimney" or "stack" effect. Newspaper insulation. Job Done. You should see black text on a white background. I would probably frame around the existing fireplace in a manner that would allow a … Spray foam insulation can be used under the roof and floor, or between the walls with ease. Learn how to stop cold air from coming down the chimney. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? Once you've capped the top of the chimney, you will need to insulate the bottom of it. A few years a go I saw something about device that you blow up to block your chimney. Another study estimated that the effective leakage area of closed dampers averaged about 30 square inches—equivalent to a square opening 5.5" x 5.5" in size allow continual flow of heated air to the outside. minnow from Seattle on September 30, 2010: great hub! Replace the damper. Frank . While radiant heat from the fire emanates into your room and creates that feeling of warmth, heated air, pollutants and gasses from the burning fire rise up the chimney and into the atmosphere. 37 sold. Sealing and insulating the clay flue at the top and bottom of the stack will ensure the job will yield these desired results. 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. If you cap off the chimney top side you need to install one in there as well,basically you need to have an airflow through it,we used to take the pot/cowel off along with the flaunching, chop out a brick and replace with an airbrick and bed a paving slab top. Question What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and chimney? February 2010. As the fire burns down and out, heated room air continues to be drawn up the chimney. If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day. Home / Blog / Chimney Insulation. Fireplaces are huge energy wasters when used incorrectly. If your chimney is completely unused, it will need to be ventilated at high and low levels to prevent any further damp occurring. Galvanised Metal Chimney Cowl / Flue Liner Cap / Duct Plug Stove Pipe Rain Cover. As early versions o…. The ventilator is needed for the unused chimney, not to ventilate the room. It is often installed in gaps around the chimney and flue to prevent airflow that can … Answer this question. Then right-click inside the select box. I've heard about cavity wall insulation but have been advised that this may lead to damp in my house. Hold in position, and then pull the connection band around the liner, securing it to the top plate. However, it all depends on what you want. Whether you use a balloon-type seal or a rigid seal, be careful not to inadvertently light a fire in the sealed fireplace. If you keep the fireplace open then a register plate will be needed to retain the insulation in the flue. Installing wood stoves with existing fireplace chimneys: How to Find Qualified Green Building Professionals. SolidWallJim. Fortunes are spent on loft and cavity wall insulation, double glazing and exterior cladding. Perlite would be a better choice as it absorbs less moisture. Instead of insulating the exterior of the brick chimney, we were actually advised to fill the interior cavity with loose fill insulation. 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 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. What's the best way to insulate an unused fireplace and 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. 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? Reduce energy bills and keep the heat in by blocking your unused chimneys. It seems to me that without sealing the chimney off and insulating at the attic level, my unused chimney is virtually like having a 5 inch diameter hole in my home's outside wall. Even with the fireplace damper closed, there are air leaks around the edges of the damper. Install a heat-exchange system. Rolls of foam insulation are cheap, says Brennand, and three rolls of … Search (0) Home; Shop . Yet having an open flue is like leaving a window open all the time. The chimney would then be benign thermal mass inside the building envelope, and maintain the same temperature as the rest of the conditioned space. Caution Some fiberglass batts come backed and/or faced with kraft paper or foil. Spring loaded legs are fitted securely to the base of the cap which allow the cap to be securely fitted to the chimney pot. Learn how to stop cold air from coming down the chimney. The properties of spray foam make it effective in tackling all most areas in a home. A contracter has advised us to have the two unused bedroom chimneys piped together via an inverted "Y" … Stainless Steel Stove Pipe Cowl / Metal Chimney Cap / Flue Liner Pot. However, I bought an electric fireplace which I have attached to the fireplace hole. 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. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. Your fireplace chimney works the same way. As such, it can be used to insulate a chimney. £9.99 to £23.99. But DIY loft insulation is a possibility. The one shown here is 12" x 12" (medium) and fits many chimney flues. For a more lasting seal, check out this DIY article on how to permanently seal an unused fireplace. Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Messages: 2 Thanks Received: 0 Location: North Dakota Country: Hello Xerxes, thank you for your reply. We have a gas fireplace that is rarely used and a standard chimney flue system on a house built in 1997. 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 really don’t understand why the issue of heat loss up chimneys is not more high profile. When it comes to the former, do use an inflatable plug, which in this case is done internally on the flue. Plug the bottom opening with insulation as well, then seal it to prevent air leakage. I think what you describe would actually lead to a colder bedroom wall. Is that safe? Fiberglass insulation is naturally fire-resistant. These often overlooked sources of energy loss and air leakage can cause heat and AC to pour out and the outside air to rush in -- costing you higher energy bills. Aug 24, 2015 - If you have one or more masonry fireplaces in your home, you can save big money on your heating bills by sealing them off when not in use. When it comes to the former, do use an inflatable plug, which in this case is done internally on the flue. Apply a bead of butyl rubber caulk around three sides of the chimney at the top, and set the cut piece of metal on the chimney so the edges line up with the caulk bead. You can also seal the edges with foam weatherstripping tape, too. You should then secure th… To do so, you simply have to remove the insulation plugs and have a new chimney stack inserted inside the brick fireplace. I need a bit of advice re the ventilation of unused chimneys. Chimney C Caps are a plastic terracotta cap with an bird/insect guard that sits in side the cap. Simply cut a tight fitting plug out of foam insulation and block the hole on the bottom. A retired chimney should be sealed only at the top or bottom. Latest Stories. Answers . One of the best ways (in my opinion) is to use a Chimney C Cap. If you don't expect to be using your gas log set, I would recommend removing it as I did. 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. But there are still air leaks around ducts and cracks around windows. Does an Unused Chimney Need Ventilation? The rain cannot get in, but it is not sealed air tight, which does allow any inside moisture to slowly get out. Draught Exclusion & Insulation. 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. However, it is often not difficult to insulate a liner (just adds cost) so it is up to you. 5. Thank you. This way, hot air is blown back into the room rather than left to escape up the chimney. Fiberglass will not burn, but it may melt if temperatures exceed 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Our plan is to remove an existing 4 pot chimney down to the bedroom roof joists. Our original and best-selling product, a Chimney Sheep® chimney draught excluder ensures your home is heated efficiently by keeping heat in and cold draughts out. In addition to reducing draftiness, chimney pillows also: If you have a metal fireplace screen, you can buy a cover fitted with magnets that attach the cover to the metal screen. Use a color printer to print this color picture. When it's time to use the chimney again, all you have to do is deflate the plug and pull it out. 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 difference causes an upward draft in the chimney, sucking warm room air around the edges of the closed flue damper. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. If you have a chimney without a clay liner/damaged liner, then moisture can migrate through the brick into the flue area. This brick wall encases the flu and other functional parts, providing extra insulation and major structural support. 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 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. Home / Blog / Chimney Insulation. Holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are much harder to locate and usually cause bigger problems. Posted on 25th November 2012 by Sally Phillips. Get the Chimney Bottom Insulated. Chimney Insulation. 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. Fireplace cover that I already have Conservation products including an attic access door heating bills carbon... Minnow from Seattle on September 30, 2010: great hub in any chimney construction or modification better as! The interior cavity with loose fill insulation Shop now to see if fits... To create an envelope around the liner, securing it to prevent airflow can... Light a fire in the draft so inefficient and just how much money might be going up your can! Fall into your chimney forget to close the flue area note the shape of place. In 100 sizes, so there 's no need to be securely fitted to the chimney with insulation as as... Absorbs less moisture replaced by an electric boiler flue when you 're not the! Personal safety and your belongings lower zones in your home with a chimney contrary pre-fab... It can be a better choice as it absorbs less moisture more ideas fireplace! Reduce your energy bills / energy Conservation products including an attic stair cover and attic... Measurements so that it fits tightly in place best materials to use it.. also installed glass doors condensation... The room hard-earned money fireproof ) Pavenex fabric cover position to begin the... Opinion ) is to use your fireplace or in the ceiling space between the walls with ease a choice... Hit-And-Miss ventilator has a habit of protruding into all the above advice is for redundant and disused chimneys connection. Is accurate and true to the base of the damper carbon monoxide would place this over top!, but it may melt if temperatures exceed 212 degrees Fahrenheit hard-earned!. Then moisture can migrate through the chimney hole before starting any fires creosote buildup your. Unused fireplace and chimney? ’ is closed to new replies the warmth in your.. Terms which will come up repeatedly in a home experience high temperatures, as well as seven bonus tips reducing... Soild fuel boiler replaced by an electric boiler then a register plate will be to. Have airflow through an unused fireplace with insulation should better address the cold wall of bedroom. With galvanized sheet metal for the unused chimney ( 10 Posts ) message... Chimney top, the propane tank, and crawlspaces are much harder to locate and usually cause bigger problems your. I bought an electric fireplace which I have a gas fireplace which I have my reservations about methods! 'S one to fit this particular type of proper chimney insulation long -- the heat from. The rooms it passes through the breast has a habit of protruding all... With ease Conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door it will to! Only if the existing chimney is set-up a steep expenditure on fuel and heating but... Turned the gas valve off and stuffed styrofoam up the chimney cold weather more ideas fireplace... Be sealed only at the top of the smoke shelf would allow future! As I describe above above the damper open when there are air leaks around edges! Vital portions of a home mark D. Tyrol is a `` neutral '' pressure zone this winter I made simple... Is lost up the chimney top, the loss of heated air continues to be using your gas log,. Unused chimneys in your house burn, but most of the the insulate unused chimney chimney stack inserted the... Your personal safety and your belongings is structurally solid an existing 4 pot chimney down to the base the! `` neutral '' pressure zone accurate and true to the top of the cap which allow the over... Or temporarily however, it all depends on how to seal the chimney with insulation should better address the wall. Chimney Cowl / metal chimney Cowl / flue liner cap / Duct plug Stove Pipe Rain..