There's no problem blocking-up / plastering a redundant fire place, but you should ensure the chimney top is closed-off to water ingress plus it is best practice to vent the flue space so as to avoid condensation forming. Answered 20th Nov 2011 Liked 34
Can you put an outside air vent in a fireplace?
Well insulated homes can benefit from an outside air supply vent installed in the fireplace to satisfy the fire's needs. Many times, a good mason can retrofit an air supply vent in an existing fireplace. Try opening a window in the fireplace room while burning.
Can you block up an unused fireplace?
Blocking up an unused fireplace. After an old fire surround and hearth has been removed, the hole in the chimney breast can be bricked in to tidy up the wall. There is no need to remove the fireback from the fireplace, although if a back boiler is fitted, this should be removed once the plumbing has been isolated and disconnected.
Can a chimney be blocked up without venting?
Having said that, my chimneys are blocked up without venting !!! ideally fit a airbrick at the top and bottom to allow through venting, if you remove and cap the top fit a airbrick to allow ventilation to chimney (You must log in or sign up to reply here.)
Do I need to hire someone to block my fireplace?
There is no need to hire someone to block your fireplace for you, however. This job cannot be accomplished in a short amount of time, but it can be done in a weekend at home.
Do capped chimneys need to be vented?
Yes it needs vented at both ends of the chimney,where each individual fire outlet,inlet maybe.
How do you ventilate a disused chimney?
You should block off the bottom of the chimney wither with a register plate or by closing the baffle at the back of your fireplace if you have one. Some ventilation holes are a good idea so that the chimney is still a ventilated space so consider leaving a small gap or hole somewhere when you block the chimney off.
Is it safe to block an unused fireplace?
Sealing off a fireplace and chimney always collects water inside the flue. Plain and simple, DO NOT seal off a chimney or fireplace because you will get a flue full of condensation problems! Even when your fireplace is blocked off airtight you'll still end up with “hidden” water issues.
Do I need to vent a fireplace?
All fireplaces, no matter what fuel you burn, need air. With a gas fire, especially with decorative fuel effect gas fires an air vent is required, usually if its over 7.1 kw input, if its under that it probably wont require an air vent.
Can a blocked chimney cause damp?
If you are seeing evidence of damp in an unused chimney breast and there are no signs of leaks, it is likely due to lack of ventilation. When a chimney is sealed up, airflow becomes restricted, which can lead to condensation forming.
Can you close up a fireplace?
Close Off Fireplaces with a Throat Damper The first, and perhaps easiest, way to close off a fireplace is with the damper. “If you have a bottom/standard masonry damper you can close it and seal it closed with silicone to stop the airflow,” says Blaken.
How do you block an old fireplace?
Couple of ways, either use light weight blocks or stud board and skim. Whichever way make sure you install a vent, and fit a rain guard on the chimney pot. This will stop water getting in and keep stack aired.
How much does it cost to seal off a fireplace?
Sealing a chimney can cost between $20 and $60 for sealant you'll apply yourself and between $200 and $400 for a professional company to seal your chimney. Price also depends on your chimney's size, if you want it waterproofed or not, and ease of accessibility. Why should you seal your chimney?
When should I close my fireplace vents?
You should close the damper on your fireplace once the fire and embers have all burned out. This prevents warm air in your house from escaping out the chimney. You should open the damper before lighting a fire and close it once the fire is done burning.
Why is there a vent in the bottom of my fireplace?
Bottom Air Vent - The bottom air vent on Old-Style Heatilator Fireplaces are where cool room air is drawn into the fireplace. The air is then routed around the firebox and exits through the top air vent where it returns to the room as heated air.
Does chimney provide ventilation?
A chimney is a vital part of any gas fire or stove installation. It's a structure that provides ventilation for hot flue gases and smoke from your fire, to the outside atmosphere. But that's where things certainly don't stop.
Is it necessary to have an air brick when blocking up a fireplace?
In any house, the structure is well dependent on the house’s ability to deal with moisture. If you had a chimney, then the moisture absorbed will be different from normal once you seal the chimney.
Does it cost a lot to put a vent panel into a bricked-up fireplace?
In some cases, we could say that it is expensive to put a vent panel into a sealed-up fireplace. This depends on the kind of house that you have.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sealing up your fireplace will come with a lot of challenges. This should not stop you from moving to a more sustainable way of warming up your house. Climate change is a severe problem and if you intend to move to more greenhouse ways, then thumbs up to you.
Why do you need to cap a chimney?
It is also necessary to cap the chimney pot to allow air circulation through the chimney while keeping rain, birds etc out. The easiest way to cap a chimney is to fit an appropriate ventilating cowl to the top of the chimney pot.
Can you remove a chimney breast after removing a fireplace?
After an old fire surround and hearth has been removed, the hole in the chimney breast can be bricked in to tidy up the wall. There is no need to remove the fireback from the fireplace, although if a back boiler is fitted, this should be removed once the plumbing has been isolated and disconnected. Ventilation needs to be provided to ...
Do you need to cover bricks with plaster?
A quantity of plaster will be required to cover the face of the bricks – this can only be applied once the mortar holding the bricks has gone off. A new section of skirting board will be required to finish off the wall after the plaster has gone off. A ventilation cowl is required to suit the chimney pot.
Can you block up a redundant fire place?
There's no problem blocking-up / plastering a redundant fire place, but you should ensure the chimney top is closed-off to water ingress plus it is best practice to vent the flue space so as to avoid condensation forming.
Can you fill a fireplace with thermalite?
You can fill in the fireplace with thermalite blocks and bricks and then plaster over. The key is to ensure the chimney is capped at the top with a 'pepperpot' cowl so no water can enter the flue.
What is the wood around a fireplace?
This is the wood, metal or tile around the opening of the fireplace. Surrounds are typically attached with screws or lug nuts. If these have corroded over time, you may need to just pull or pry them out instead of unscrewing them. Stone or brick surrounds will need to be chipped away with a hammer or chisel.
Why do chimney cowls fit in chimneys?
Each chimney cowl fits in the chimney a little bit differently, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. This allows for air to continue to slowly flow into the chimney so it does not become damp. It also prevents birds or other small animals from entering the chimney. 00:00. 00:0112:45.
How to measure bricks for a hole?
Measure using square metres if you plan on using bricks to fill the hole. Multiply the measurement by 60 to determine how many bricks you will need to fill in the opening and purchase at least 5 per cent more bricks than that amount.
Can you block a fireplace?
Blocking a fireplace can significantly bring down the value of your home, but if the fireplace is not in working order and cannot be repaired, it may be in your best interest to block it. There is no need to hire someone to block your fireplace for you, however.
Why does my fireplace smoke?
If the fireplace starts to draw better, this is likely the problem. A running kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan could be the cause of your fireplace smoke. Another culprit may be the blower fan of a forced hot air heating system especially if the furnace return vent is in the same room as the fireplace.
Why does smoke escape through a fireplace?
Smoke that escapes through the fireplace opening is the result of poor fireplace drafting which can be caused by a number of factors. Here are some of the most common causes and solutions. House is well insulated: Unlike a moderately drafty home, a house that is relatively air tight may not be able to supply enough outside air to ...
What are the factors that determine the size of a fireplace?
There are critical parts of a fireplace that must be built to specific sizes in relation to other components. Flue volume and fireplace opening size ratios are extremely important. Other factors include smoke shelf construction, size and shape of the damper, chimney height in relation to peak of roof height and so on.
Does a fireplace smoke problem go away?
If you make sure that all of these types of fans are off while the fireplace is burning, the smoke problem may go away. Even fireplaces that draft great when its cold outside can be known to puff out fireplace smoke when it's slightly warmer out.
Can a house be air tight?
Unlike a moderately drafty home, a house that is relatively air tight may not be able to supply enough outside air to the fire resulting in a negative pressure in the home. Well insulated homes can benefit from an outside air supply vent installed in the fireplace to satisfy the fire's needs.
Can a fire happen when it's colder out?
Having a fire when it's colder out may help. Damper/chimney cap problems: Make sure that the damper is open all the way. Sometimes there is a rain cap or even another damper on top of the chimney which may be obstructed and need attention. Have a professional take a look to see if that's the case.
Can a chimney flue cause drafting problems?
Creosote build up in the chimney can reduce the the flow of exhaust gasses which can cause fireplace smoke and may also lead to a chimney fire. A shattered chimney flue can also cause drafting problems.
Is It Necessary to Have An Air Brick When Blocking Up A fireplace?
Does It Cost A Lot to Put A Vent Panel Into A Bricked-Up fireplace?
- In some cases, we could say that it is expensive to put a vent panel into a sealed-up fireplace. This depends on the kind of house that you have. If you have got an average-sized modern house, then this procedure will not be very expensive. You will only need in most cases to seal up the bottom side of the fireplace. If you do this well enough, the...
Questions and Topics
- How an unvented fireplace can encourage damp, i.e., no draught. When you have a space such as a fireplace that has been open and experienced a whole array of gas passes through. When you close this and allow this space to become infiltrated by both hot and cold, it will be a damp space. You will need to understand that there is no place for the moisture to go. It will then begin to star…
Conclusion
- In conclusion, sealing up your fireplace will come with a lot of challenges. This should not stop you from moving to a more sustainable way of warming up your house. Climate change is a severe problem and if you intend to move to more greenhouse ways, then thumbs up to you. It would be wise to put an air vent somewhere along the line. Doing this will prevent a buildup of m…