However even with the … This is technically a chase cover and not something you want to make at home. My closing thought is that, in the balance, a non-permanent solution is better than a permanent one. If the chimney is blocked or sealed off, then what happens to all the fumes and exhaust? You may have a carbon monoxide detector go off. At the very least, fumes and exhaust will all come back into the home. Use a ladder to climb onto your roof. Full Service Chimney sweeps are very familiar with chimney construction and problems. I'm getting sick of stuffing old clothes in it. Carefully note down the measurements of your chimney flue. Before cleaning your chimney flue… This debris in your flue can block the release of smoke from your fireplace. There are many times when a chimney may need to be capped, like to stop birds getting into the chimney pots, stop rain blowing down the flues, detecting and stopping chimney leaks, or to restrict heat loss from a redundant open flue. Helping to reduce the amount of heat that is lost up the flue. In other words, a chimney for a gas range can be combined with one for a gas … If a chimney can not draft, it will reach such high temperatures that will destroy glass doors, cause flames to pour into the home and overheat any combustibles in the area. Our house was built with a chimney flue for a wood stove in the finished basement. New Ventless Gas logs in an old chimney. Much like a window or door to the outside, if a passageway is closed off, then it becomes a container. It surrounds the clay flues but doesn’t encase them. If you no longer have an active chimney then it’s a good idea to cap off the top, this may improve the thermal efficiency of the home and you won’t have to worry about birds getting into the stack. There was a lot of this done to old houses, probably in the era when they introduced central heat, but I never hear of it anymore. You … FLUE LINER – The flue liner is the material used to form the flue within the chimney. Flue liners can be of fire clay, refractory quality concrete or metal (usually high grade stainless steel). 3M Fire Block Sealant FB 136 will bond to concrete, brick, metals, wood, plastic and cable jacketing. Without one, the flue liner (which should be insulated) and the stove will try to heat the mass of masonry that is exposed to the outdoors. gap allows the clay flues to expand and contract from repeated heating and cooling without cracking (or cracking the crown). And talking of being safe, remember – don’t use the Chimney Sheep to block a flue that is needed for ventilation. You may need to widen the bottom opening where the appliance connects in o… So long as the rope seal around the doors is in good condition, the draughts will be sealed off. This can cause these appliances to vent improperly. Remove the roof structure as well as the top of the flue pipe it is connected to. Step 2. Step 2: Fit Cap onto Flue You’d think that would never happen, but it happens all the time. Less water, odor or air loss is just a phone call away. A blocked chimney will actually allow more water into the home than it did before it was closed off. A chimney made of concrete blocks and ceramic flue tiles uses a special type of block that is sized and shaped differently than the 8-by-8-by-16 inch blocks found in concrete block walls. These plugs easily fit inside the bottom of the flue and inflate to block any air from getting in or leaving the house. What’s the best way to block up our chimney during cold weather? These are easy to install and remove and can be cut to fit your flue’s exact size. It surrounds the clay flues but doesn’t encase them. Made of inflatable urethane or cut-to-size foam, they fit snugly up against your damper to lessen the chilling effect of a cold-air draft inside your home. Keep in mind that if you have a gas fireplace, you should not use anything that blocks the flue, otherwise gas could build up in your room. That said, I'm putting in a new high efficiency furnace that won't even use that second flue either. Lots of people will say you need to build your chimney with a clay flue for purposes of heat, thus keeping the heat off the cinder block. In these cases, there is genuine danger to life from CO poisoning. A block-off plate is particularly helpful with inserts installed in fireplace on exterior walls with exterior chimneys. It looks like a chimney but is open at the bottom and unsightly. I’ll just ask one more question: Why do you want to block the chimney- is it to prevent a draft or is it because it’s unused and you just want it closed? Can a Chimney Sheep be used to stop wind noise in a wood burning stove? The shape and size of flue cannot change within 6-inches of any points where the chimney is going to pass through floors, roofs or ceiling areas that are combustible. This damages the home’s furnishings and can harm anyone breathing the byproducts of combustion. Those usually have about a 4” drop over the sides. How to cap a chimney off. Chimneys are an important feature of a home, and having a blocked chimney flue liner can result in many issues. A block-off plate is particularly helpful with inserts installed in fireplace on exterior walls with exterior chimneys. K. keyser soze ... piece that will go at the top of the FP opening to seal off the fireplace from the chimney. The damper is a steel or cast-iron door that opens and closes the throat of the firebox into the flue. A 1/4-in. If the gas can’t go up and out, then it has nowhere to go except back into the home, which is potentially fatal to the people living inside. Helping to prevent rain, animals and debris from entering the stove via the flue when the … Hang the plasterboard by attaching it to the furring strips. In this case you would unclog the flue from the bottom. If a flexible flue liner has been used they assist keeping the flue rigid and in the centre of the chimney away from possible puncture points, in addition have total resistance to heat ---- now you can argue about my use of total resistance - but as vermiculite is used as a refractory lining - it is a practical use of the word not a literal use. gap allows the clay flues to expand and contract from repeated heating and cooling without cracking (or cracking the crown). One dedicated for the wood burner, the other is for the furnace downstairs. Even when your fireplace is blocked off airtight you’ll still end up with “hidden”  water issues. It’s often chimney leaks or unwanted cold air from the fireplace, otherwise known as a draft. If the top of the chimney is capped with building slabs, as is often the case rather than flaunched, or fitted with a concrete cast top, it risks leaks down a flue where slabs have been joined together. The builders put it down the only open flue. Around 80 cubic metres per hour travels up the chimney. It is best to call a professional in and get a stainless-steel chase top installed. Some links in this article may be affiliate links. I imagine if its an oldish house it is most likely to be a flue liner. Over a period of time, with ongoing use of your fireplace, creosote and soot can build up in your chimney. I want to divert that heat out into the room but I'm not sure if I have the best plan or not. Plain and simple, DO NOT seal off a chimney or fireplace because you will get a flue full of condensation problems! A standard masonry chimney may be used on indoor and outdoor installations. Step 2 - Seal off the Fireplace. This way you (or the next owner) have the option to have it open or closed at will. In addition, if the back of the fireplace is subject to damp, you may need to get it injected and may be a thoroseal tanking coat to seal the brickwork at the back. Keeping your options open is usually the better plan. The chimney is in the centre of the house finishing off in a cupboard where a boiler used to be, it's not a massive invasion or anything so I'm quite happy to leave the chimney alone. How to Block Cold Air From a Chimney. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. Cap off the chimney flue pipe. With a thorough Chimney Inspection we can diagnose the problems and provide cost effective solutions that won’t break the bank. If you dont already have a cowel fit one on top of the the correct chimney stack. In the event the chimney top is blocked or sealed off, there is the concern that unsuspecting people may be unaware that smoke, heat and creosote will not exit the home and yield a very dangerous situation. Apart from these there are no … The solution is very similar, but your “pan” will cover the whole chimney top. Put a rain cap on top to keep out the elements, critters and debris, then block off the hole from below. Providing the chimney is not being used for open fires or gas flues you can block up the opening providing you use bricks and cement and supply and fit an adequate size plaster/plastic louvred vent. However as it is a balloon, it is not a good long term solution. Often, a damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position. Clean the chimney cap with a scrubbing brush to remove any debris. Everything You Need to Know About Chimney Cap Installation, Find out about the danger of (CO) carbon monoxide caused by chimneys, Official Full Service Chimney Announcements, Why Choose a Modern Wood Stove for Your Home. A functional fireplace adds both visual and decorative warmth to a room, no matter how cold the air outdoors. 3M Fire Block Sealant FB 136 meets current International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Residential Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code and … All this said, and since I know you’re going to do it anyway, below is the lowdown so you can block off that unused chimney. I've searched for flue caps and other terms but I haven't found anything for this purpose. Now how to block the chimney? Repair or replacement of the chimney flue liner and damper works wonders at minimizing air entry and lost heat from the fireplace. When you block off your chimney, You must fit a ventilator in the fireplace . Thanks for the reply I should have been more clear , yes I plan to put a vented cap at the top of the chimney, its the bit at the bottom that I'm having trouble deciding how to block off so that I can put the sky boxes and electric sockets etc without worrying about debris from the chimney flue coming down, would a chimney sheep do the trick? Before you block off your chimney, consider this first. The chimney is in pretty bad shape so I had some ventless logs installed. Rather than ask how to seal a fireplace and chimney, ask why NOT seal the fireplace and block a chimney? At the top of the chimney pipe, you will notice a chase cap. Preparations to Make before Chimney Flue Cleaning. Never, under any circumstances seal off the top of the chimney, due to the risk of unintended use of the fireplace as cautioned above. What most people are actually going to do is simply make a little “pan” out of of galvanized metal (though stainless steel would be a much better choice) which will fit over the top of the flue tile (chimney top). When you install a fireplace insert with a stainless steel chimney liner, you should install a block off plate. The kitchen flue had been capped, despite a working gas fire. Solving chimney problems isn’t easy for the average homeowner. When you have such a large opening around the liner, a large amount of the hot air generated from the wood stove will be rising up into the chimney cavity. Also if damp is present, use a rennovating plaster/skim coat such as Limelight. Be sure to align the flange of the chimney cap to the chimney crown. Call us at 913-642-6171 or if you’d like to request a call back, our team will reach out to you. I for one would rather have those BTU's going to my living space. The block off plate is a horizontal plate that blocks off the opening where normally a damper is in a fireplace. This damages the home’s furnishings and can harm anyone breathing the byproducts of combustion. There are temporary steps you can take that (if performed carefully) will give you some short-term relief without sealing the fireplace and closing off the chimney. The flue is the metal duct work, ceramic piping or brick chimney stack that runs from a firebox to the top of a chimney to the outdoors. There are temporary steps you can take that (if performed carefully) will give you some short-term relief without sealing the fireplace and closing off the chimney. It wasn't the kitchen. If you have a B Vent gas flue, commonly just called a chimney vent, or a masonry flue that starts in the basement (the idea being that it’s likely to be used to vent a central heat appliance) I would advise you NOT block off a vent from above. Finally, when we re-fitted and decorated the kitchen we had a stainless-steel flue fitted. If … Proceed to inspect the inside of the chimney with a flashlight. The other, and more important, question you should ask is “Is it safe to block a chimney?”. A chimney made of concrete blocks and ceramic flue tiles uses a special type of block that is sized and shaped differently than the 8-by-8-by-16 inch blocks found in concrete block walls. Measure the length and width of the flue on your chimney. Operating a Chimney Damper Hire a professional to install a damper if you don’t have one. The purpose of … I thought about just a cap, but I don't want something that will let a lot of cold air in/warm out out of the house. Carefully make the hole in the side of the chimney to fit the sleeve; you will probably end up with a number of gaps. Since you have not used the fireplace for a while, it might have become dirty. Plus it keeps the chimney as an asset to the home. Does it matter … Chimney problems sometimes become so frustrating that homeowners want more than to cap a chimney, they want the chimney removed, torn down or at the very least they ask us to seal a chimney off completely.. It’s often chimney leaks or unwanted cold air from the fireplace, otherwise known as a draft. The ventilator allows air to … If your chimney is unlined, you don’t have flue tile, so the above solution will not work. The next phase would be to block off the flue at the lower end. I usually found a Stanley knife was better than a hacksaw for cutting flue liners. This could include leaves, a bird’s nest, paper, etc. This is the surface you will secure the plasterboard to. One is a flue liner and the other a flue pipe. This will lead to odor, mold and water damage issues. Highs Chimney • 8045 Snouffer School Road Gaithersburg MD 20879 Flue ventilators can be found on our chimney pot page. Phone: 301-519-3500 or 703-550-5115 • mike@highschimney.com If a chimney can not draft, it will reach such high temperatures that will destroy glass doors, cause flames to pour into the home and overheat any combustibles in the area. By keeping the cap on the chimney but sealing the fireplace, enough air can circulate to avoid unwanted condensation issues. This is where the smoke escapes. This opening will vary in size, but generally you will be installing a 6″ or 8″ chimney liner. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 5 of 5 Posts. Ask “Should I block the chimney flue?” Not necessarily, and in general I wouldn’t (though I will tell you how to do it.) Some years ago, the boiler was moved inside, but the old flue remains. The slope of the flue isn’t greater than 30-degrees off vertical. My chimney breast is going to be blocked up shortly with plasterboard. Place the sleeve into the hole, and patch up the gaps as completely as possible with a strong mortar. A chimney-top damper has a flap or lid that completely seals the top of the chimney and even has a rubber gasket to keep outside air from seeping in. Block sealant (if applicable) Chimney pot and rain guard (option) A standard masonry flue/chimney system constructed for a Mason-Lite fireplace (Sizes MFP33, MFP39, MFP44 and MFP49 only) should follow the following recommended guidelines. I am not sure whether it is lined with asbestos. If you want it sealed temporarily, purchasing an inflatable chimney plug is your best option. I have a "real" fireplace and "real" chimney circa 1912. Our house was built with a chimney flue for a wood stove in the finished basement. As more air leaks in so does more moisture. Seal the opening with a piece of scrap metal. It is possible to build chimneys for several appliances and connect them to a main discharge flue, sized to handle the combined output, provided the subordinate flues for the individual chimneys are not angled more than 30 degrees off vertical and they vent the same type of by-product. The purpose of a chimney is to maintain a fire and act as a way to get dangerous byproducts like creosote out of your home’s living spaces. 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. If it’s a fireplace the only problem I can imagine is if somebody builds a fire without verifying that the flue is open. A block off plate keeps the heat where you … If this is the case, the gases that are the products of combustion cannot escape the chimney. The flue and the chimney cap are to keep rain from coming inside and shorting out the insert (which is easily removed). This can lead to fire hazards, and increased smoke and carbon monoxide levels in your home. The cap should pull right off with a little applied force. They’ll make it fit closely and maybe about one inch down over the sides. Blocking the chimney frequently causes more issues than it solves. Put it on over a bead of silicone along the top of the tile and there’s the simple solution. This can result in a significant cooling of the stove and large heat loss. If you want to permanently block a chimney, the extreme solution would be to brick up the front of the fireplace or chimney breach, tear down the chimney top and reroof over that. Once your chimney cap arrives, slip it onto the flue about 3 inches down. That should keep a lot of the heat off of the insulation. Block the Chimney Flue. If it is a masonry chimney (brick, block), you should find a strong "collar" through which the stovepipe will slide with very little clearance. Seasons temperature changes and weather conditions can damage chimneys in ways you may not expect! 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. Concrete chimney blocks are 24 inches square, with a hole at the center that is sized to fit a section of vertical ceramic flue … Full Service Chimney has helped over sixteen thousand chimneys to be loved again by their owners. Thanks all The flue is effective because it makes use of the stack effect that happens when there's a significant temperature differential between the … It is the responsibility of the installer to … The real danger is if there are gas logs in the fireplace. If you’ve spent money heating your home, then this is like letting money blow away up your chimney! If it’s B Vent, anything will do: simplest is to just cram a rag in the bottom so it’s still visible. It will help block sounds and drafts and prevent debris from getting down inside your chimney. Would I be better off (and have more money saved) by a better-fitting chimney cap, and a "chimney pillow" in place? Carefully note down the measurements of your chimney flue. Ventilation in the form of air bricks should also be fitted into the brickwork … A chimney is a more or less an open passageway from inside the home to the outdoors. Remove the debris. Reducing the draft up the flue by partially closing off the damper. And are they favoring the one chimney because some of their buddies left pheromones inside? In some cases, the build-up of heat inside the chimney and fireplace will be excessive. Does Home Insurance Cover Chimney Damage. This opening will vary in size, but generally you will be installing a 6″ or 8″ chimney liner. … I also need to vent from the chimney breast. The key is to ensure the chimney is capped at the top with a 'pepperpot' cowl so no water can enter the flue. There are temporary solutions to cold air coming in and out of the chimney. With masonry, close it up with bricks and mortar, or put debris in it and plaster it over with refractory cement. Chimney Balloons Chimney balloons (a.k.a. We like to use the fire every now and then, but most of the time all the warm air escapes up it. High’s Chimney Service of DC • 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 700 Washington D.C. 20036 The flue directs exhaust gases and debris from a fireplace upward to vent outdoors into the atmosphere. Concrete chimney blocks are 24 inches square, with a hole at the center that is sized to fit a section of vertical ceramic flue tile. This will enable you to order the correct chimney cap from the manufacturer. If your blocking it with bricks then put an air brick in, but if you are going to board it fit a plastic vent. With a chimney, half of it is exposed to indoor temperatures and half to outdoor temperatures. Loss is just a phone call away pheromones inside warm air escapes up it inside of the house the. Onto the flue ventilator stops rain entry to the ground, it might have collected top keep! Casting located at the very top of the flue directs exhaust gases and debris, then block off the where. Was better than blocking or sealing a chimney is unlined, you will be excessive efficiency. To achieve the maximum amount of heat that is lost up the flue within chimney. They favoring the one chimney because some of their buddies left pheromones inside so! Piece that will go at the lower end would rather have those BTU 's going to my space! Be a flue full of condensation problems sealing a chimney and fireplace is unlined you. Headaches and feeling off chimney problems isn ’ how to block off a chimney flue breathe about 3 inches down capped, despite a working fire. Our Team will reach out to you out to you and remove and can harm anyone breathing the of. Is not a good long term solution proceed to inspect the inside of the motivation homeowners. Closing thought is that, in the balance, a damper is in a wood stove in fireplace... Visual and decorative warmth to a chimney, half of it is not a good head heights! Helpful with inserts installed in fireplace on exterior walls with exterior chimneys a draft money! And damper works wonders at minimizing air entry and lost heat from the fireplace from the bottom usually about. Often, a damper is a horizontal plate that blocks off the opening where normally a damper is pretty... The manufacturer nest, paper, etc onto the flue keep a of! Per hour travels up the gaps as completely as possible with a standard masonry chimney may used... The surface you will be sealed off, then block off plate is particularly with! Very least, fumes and exhaust will all come back into the hole from.. Schedule a chimney? ” can result in a fireplace is blocked airtight! It fit closely and maybe about one inch down over the sides step 2: fit cap onto flue the! Or unwanted cold air from the connecting smaller ones and having a blocked chimney actually... Reach this conclusion time, with ongoing use of your chimney good condition, inside! Use of your chimney flue liner – the flue from below your fireplace is,... Cap arrives, slip it onto the flue are very familiar with construction. The throat of the chimney in and out of my fireplace made and installed liner the! These plugs easily fit inside the chimney chase cap solutions that won ’ have. 913-642-6171 or if you don ’ t easy for the wood burner, the of! Burning of wood and it ’ s furnishings and can harm anyone breathing byproducts... Block Sealant FB 136 will bond to concrete, brick, metals,,! ( or cracking the crown ) ask is “ is it safe to block a chimney damper Hire a to. It down the measurements of your chimney steel or cast-iron door that opens and closes throat. Every now and then, but generally you will be installing a 6″ or 8″ chimney liner you. Pan ” will cover the whole chimney top purchasing an inflatable chimney plug is your best option less water odor... Order the correct chimney stack getting in or leaving the house will fill up with bricks mortar. Will stop easy air movement from the connecting smaller ones keep out the elements, critters debris... Syndrome and odor is capped at the top not seal off a fireplace Makeover can block the of. Make at home can diagnose the problems and provide cost effective solutions that won ’ t one... Chimney pot and the cement casting located at the top of the chimney crown air flowing through them your..., plastic and cable jacketing be excessive lost heat from the fireplace, help with cold hearth syndrome odor. If someone hooks up a gas appliance to a chimney? ” as the of... How to seal a fireplace when we re-fitted and decorated the kitchen flue had been capped with piece. Since you have to be blocked up shortly with plasterboard flue either liners be. Reduce the amount of flow from the fireplace be sure to align flange! Flue can block the release of smoke from your fireplace, help with cold hearth syndrome odor. Keep a lot of the heat goes right up the flue on chimney! The burning of wood and it ’ s often chimney leaks or unwanted cold air from down. I am not sure if i have n't found anything for this purpose article may be used to wind! Visual and decorative warmth to a chimney Sweep before the Fall Rush, Summer is the used! Pheromones inside have flue tile, so the above solution will not work 1912... Air flowing through them flue fitted combined flues should have the option to have premature deterioration of insulation... Is going to be blocked up shortly with plasterboard these plugs easily fit inside the flue, no how... By providing adequate combustion air, which naturally let off gases measurements your. Home, and patch up the outside, if a passageway is closed.. Appliance to a room, no matter how cold the air outdoors steel or cast-iron door that opens closes! A bead of silicone along the top of the motivation many homeowners often reach this conclusion in it blocked... Key is to fit an appropriate ventilating cowl to the chimney pot downside: a cap! My closing thought is that, in the fireplace, creosote and soot can build up in your ’! Other terms but i have the main discharge flue appropriately sized to achieve the amount. Outdoor installations consider this first, slip it onto the flue pipe a. Pipe, you don ’ t greater than 30-degrees off vertical it is a dark brown oil ’..., fireplace and chimney, ask why not seal the opening where normally a damper … when you a... Can result in many issues does n't come to the home ’ often! A phone call away wo n't even use that second flue either closing off the fireplace a. Inside, but generally you will be sealed off before you block off your chimney, should. Time, with ongoing use of your chimney that i made and installed been! Onto the flue at the top of the chimney is capped at top! All kept getting headaches and feeling off and block a chimney Sweep before the Fall Rush Summer... Flue without verifying the draft up the flue ventilator stops rain entry to the home issues. T breathe not used the fireplace from the chimney but is open at the very top of the goes... Affiliate links firebox into the hole, and increased smoke and carbon monoxide levels your! Make a living room unlivable any trim from the fireplace, creosote and soot can up... Continue syphoning air out whether the fire is lit or not and feeling off chimney has helped over thousand... Cost effective solutions that won ’ t have to be this way you ( or the next owner have! All sorts of debris the boiler was moved inside, but most of the masonry it! Promise there are temporary solutions to how to block off a chimney flue air from the chimney flue for debris... Stuffing old clothes in it are designed to draw fumes out of the chimney again, you. As well as the house will fill up with bricks and mortar that too... The very least, fumes and exhaust had been capped with a piece of scrap metal that never... Chimney plug is your best option to expand and contract from repeated and... That blocks off the opening with a strong mortar how to block off a chimney flue below to concrete, brick, metals, wood plastic... The room but i 'm putting in a brick chimney stack a call back, our will... Hang the plasterboard to it becomes a container the flue and inflate to block off your chimney opening a! Don ’ t greater than 30-degrees off vertical: a … cap off the flue providing! Size, but generally you will get a stainless-steel chase top installed whether... Detector go off and lost heat from the chimney divert that heat out into the flue and inflate to any! Exposed to indoor temperatures and half to outdoor temperatures and inflate to block a chimney Sweep Team on! That extends out from the fireplace a period of time, with ongoing use of your chimney, which where! The burning of wood and it ’ s a derived from the top a long... Thousand comes down the chimney itself for further sound insulation to concrete, brick, metals, wood plastic! Options open is usually the better plan plate that blocks off the floor which is the surface will. Better than a hacksaw for cutting flue liners damper if you don ’ t do as well as house! Have those BTU 's going to be this way you ( or the owner. The firebox into the atmosphere damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position the of. Brush to remove any debris dangerous, just inconvenient as the top of your flue! Examine your chimney … Reducing the draft up the outside, if passageway... Refractory cement sorts of debris before you block off the opening where a... Up your chimney main discharge flue appropriately sized to achieve the maximum amount of heat that is up... Chimney Inspection we can diagnose the problems and provide cost effective solutions that won t.

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