We have a fireplace in our house that has a good working damper as well as one of those little trap doors on the floor to dump all the ashes. Although they close properly, I can still feel a draft and want to minimize the amount of heated air lost when we’re not using it.
Does anyone have any good ideas of how to temporary seal a fireplace?
Thanks,
Tark
Replies
Get a tight-fitting fireplace door or cover. In the olden days there were covers that fit over the fireplaces in the summer, but nothing says you couldn't use one in the winter, when the fireplace is not in use.
Tark,
There are two possible product you might consider:
The Fireplace DraftStopper from Battic Door: http://www.batticdoor.com/DraftStopper.htm
The Chimney Balloon: http://www.chimneyballoon.us/chimneyballoon.html
Martin Holladay, senior editor
GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Thanks Martin,That is just what I'm looking for Thanks!Tark
How about the weatherstripping like around your oven door. I want to say an asbestos weatherstrip, but it's probably not made of that any more. This assumes you have a lip that the lid/damper shuts against, too.
Martin's idea works for longer periods of time of no use, I think.
I am a chimney sweep and lurk around these parts due to my love of quality homes and construction. What I recommend to my customers is a Lymance top mounting damper. It is a cast aluminum assembly that sits on top of the flue. A stainless cable is then lowered and mounted to a small handle to the inside of the firebox wall. These dampers are said to be 80% more efficient than a steel plate throat damper. They also will serve to keep you flue "preheated" ensuring a good draft when ready to burn. Let me know if you have any questions, I could send you a brochure if you need it. A set of glass doors is also another route, but they can never be installed to be as tight as a top mount damper and can be quite expensive.
Jeff