Make sure that it is clear of any extraneous debris. The following information should help you comprehend better; This is also known as the chimney balloon and serves as a plug that fits into the chimney bottom. This is one of the primary reasons for having a chimney and fireplace sealed. The opening needs to be then sealed with a piece of metal, and additional sound insulation can be achieved by placing a barrier over t… The process involves cleaning out the chimney and fireplace first. > News > Renovation & Design > Sealing unused chimney need not be a complicated task, By: Ari Marantz It would definitely be a good idea to call for a couple of estimates, even if you were thinking of doing the exterior sealing yourself. Here, the thimble ports left open will need to be sealed before using the chimney. As people spend more of their time indoors, it becomes necessary to ensure that there’s enough supply of fresh air in the home. Put a ventilated rain cowl/cap on the chimney pots. Before sealing a brick chimney, clean the surface with a brick cleaner to remove all curing compounds or visible stains such as mold, mildew, efflorescence, or rust. Ask Question Asked 3 years ago. Hire the services of professional fireplace cleaners to clean it well. Sealing off an unused fireplace. Last season I replaced my extremely old oil furnace with a high-efficiency propane furnace. That way, the structure remains and gets sufficient ventilation while adding to your home’s feel and look. Certain fireplaces are pieces of art. What energy? This procedure is something you can do yourself as a homeowner. Chimney flues. The flue ventilator stops rain entry to the chimney but still allows a small amount of … Basically in our living room we have a working inglenook fireplace.... Sealing a chimney and fitting extractor fan. Any of these methods will serve your needs. Plus, you can even decide to have it removed altogether. Also, the sealing damper keeps out moisture from your chimney. How to Seal an Unused Fireplace and Save Money on Heating Bills. Waterproofing and sealing a chimney can be vital to its structural integrity. The rain cannot get in, but it is not sealed air tight, which does allow any inside moisture to slowly get out. One of them includes a chimney that has run out its course. by adminchi | Feb 2, 2018 | Blog | 0 comments. Unused, though, they can waste a lot of heat up the chimney. 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. In that situation repairs can be done fairly quickly while supplies are temporarily stored on the roof adjacent to the chimney. Wood, kindling, and other materials that may travel up the chimney must be at a minimum of two inches away from the outer part of the chimney. It doesn’t matter the size of your chimney crown. This has to be systematic. Sealing an unused chimney and fireplace is necessary as it helps keep it safe. Both of these should become a non-issue if you properly air seal the former chimney openings top and bottom. This is followed by the cementing of masonry using special bricks known as air-flow bricks to aid with ventilation. Locate the chase cap of the fireplace, which is the pipe that lets out its smoke. Flue ventilators can be found on our chimney pot page. Leaks allow moisture into your home which can Sealing leaks in a brick chimney can be a lot of hard work but can save you a lot of time and hassle in the future if you seal the leak before it causes too much damage. How to temporarily block a chimney. 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. I have a 1955 farm home which has a chimney currently being used to exhaust an oil furnace. Whether you’re thinking about sealing up your chimney and fireplace temporarily or permanently, the information here will guide you on how to go about closing it. This can either be done permanently or partially depending on what works for you. That roof structure has to be removed, as well as the pipe it is connected to. There are two main reasons why you should seal the chimney. Preventing this will be of primary importance, but cold air intrusion from the top of the chimney must also be eliminated. You’ll need to get a trained professional who has experience in this area. How to seal a unused thimble in exhaust chimney. Hi, we've recently bought a very old house (listed building). Occasionally chimney pots may need to be capped if unused, protected from bird entry, rain blowing down the chimney pot, or both. It is assumed that you do not have plans of renovating or remodeling your chimney in the nearest future. Your email address will not be published. 2015-08-29. When no longer in use, the open space will require some form of blocking to prevent the elements from taking their toll on it. That may be necessary if it becomes damaged or access to the inside of the chimney for future repairs is required. Repeated applications -- with time to cure in between -- may be required to get a thick enough layer to fill all gaps above and below the insulation plugs. The chimney should be clean and free of dirt, oil, dust and any unwanted contaminants. Seems pretty extreme and unreversible. Usually unused chimneys are capped off with a bent sheet metal covering and perhaps a wire strap or weight on the top. Another reason for being unable to use a chimney has to do with local ordinances prohibiting the use of wood as burning fuel for chimneys. According to VA chimney experts there is no code stating how I have to seal the thimble. Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the past president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors -- Manitoba (cahpi.mb.ca). Such reasons may differ from one person to the other. This chimney product comes in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. There are different approaches to doing this. Second, the sealant works as a waterproofing agent and prevents leaks. This will allow air to pass through the chimney and help prevent problems caused by moisture. If you want an easy way to temporarily block and unused fireplace flue to stop a draft, you should consider installing a top sealing damper. If not, one can be fashioned from sheet metal using standard tools such as tin snips and pliers. The top of the chimney isn’t left out. You can also seal the edges with foam weatherstripping tape, too. Viewed 3k times 2. 2:39. 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. Sealing it completely may affect some form of ventilation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Thankfully the resources on the internet will be very beneficial in helping you get the job done. They are far less expensive than the newer dampers, but they must be removed before every fire and cannot be reinstalled until the fireplace has completely cooled. Moreover, it is also possible to use decorative items such as sculptors, candles, or figurines will cover your unused chimney just fine. Despite briefly explaining the process involved in permanently sealing an unused chimney and fireplace, you don’t need to be worried about every detail involved. When a chimney isn’t operable any longer, it can be sealed from the top while leaving the fireplace to add to the beauty of your home. When the experts come around, questions are asked, an inspection is carried out and the most appropriate action is taken based on your needs and the situation at hand. When implementing such modifications, however, it’s necessary to ensure you make provisions for ventilation as discussed earlier. This cap should be large enough to fit easily over the top of the clay flue, but not too large that significant gaps appear between the sides and the clay liner. If your damper is near the firebox, you can use insulation to seal the chimney. You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator. All Rights Reserved. As long as you measure your chimney dimensions correctly, the installation should be easy. If you wish to temporarily seal up an unused chimney, there are effective ways to go about it. A secure chimney cap must be installed to keep out debris and moisture. 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. If, on the other hand, the top of the chimney is capped, but it isn’t ventilated, moisture can build up on the inside of the chimney stack, a further cause of damp. If you have an unevenly shaped clean-out, or an older cast iron one embedded in the masonry, capping may require a little more ingenuity. The option you choose is entirely up to you. So, how should you maintain balance when sealing your chimney to prevent energy loss? It absolutely will. Closing Off An Unused Or Abandoned Thimble Port. Before this is done, however, you must address the air leakage and condensation issue. This is because quite a lot of work is needed to make a fire, and maintain the general functionality of the chimney including the removal of creosote and soot among others. Squirrels and raccoons have been known to invade poorly sealed chimneys. Depending on the style of your home, and the height of the top of the chimney above your roof, special equipment may be needed for this task. The oil furnace used the chimney to exhaust its combustion gases. The chimney is brick with two clay tile liners running through it. Oct 30, 2014 - How to Close an Unused Chimney. Installing a metal cap on the top of the chimney will solve the pest, debris and rain concern, but some air leakage may still be possible due to the imperfect fit. You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator. The fireplace flue can be a major source of energy loss. Sealing an unused chimney. In most cases, the need to seal a chimney will be due to it being underutilized or completely unused. Sealing and insulating the clay flue at the top and bottom of the stack will ensure the job will yield these desired results. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A kitchen brick pizza oven & a living room fireplace share the same space. 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. Normally, there is a roof-like structure attached with the cap that disallows any rain from entering it. This can be easily accomplished with a combination of batts or rigid insulation stuffed tight inside these openings and then sealed with a few inches of blown-in polyurethane foam. ©2015 Winnipeg Free Press. Consider sealing it only at the top or the bottom. However, such a delicate task shouldn’t be performed by you especially when you have little experience or know-how about the task at hand. Chimney … Trim and drywall are added next followed by painting. Treated energy from HVAC systems is bound to escape through the chimney or fireplace when it isn’t sealed. Within the chimney … First, a good quality sealer protects the chimney and helps it last longer. The need for waterproofing applies to brick chimneys in particular. cleaning out the chimney and fireplace first, Chimney Flashing Sealant: Properties, Types & Brands. Are you able to provide me with some guidance here? Even new cast-iron dampers allow air loss. One of the decisions you’ll have to make at some point regarding your chimney is to either seal them temporarily or permanently. The furnace is in the basement, and on the main floor there was a thimble extending out on each side of the chimney. 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. In certain situations, there are no plans for future use of the chimney or fireplace. All you need to do is call in the experts. For these unused chimneys, it’s better to have them sealed up at least until you’re able to come up with modifications for alternative fuel use. The procedures involved can be overwhelming for some people. Active 1 year, 3 months ago. If you could provide a link to VA code that says otherwise I'd be appreciative. Not everyone wants to temporarily seal of their unused chimney and fireplace. The expanding foam found at home centres or hardware stores in small aerosol cans should be sufficient for this purpose. I have also had some condensation enter the basement by way of the clean-out. Question: I'm looking for advice on how to cap off an unused chimney. Even a bungalow with a very steep roof and a chimney top well above the eave may require temporary installation of scaffolding to ensure a safe worksite. This can be costly to rent and may require more time to set up and break down than the repair itself. This ensures the zero accumulation of all sorts of debris. I would like to be able to sit on the floor w/o feeling the cold air barreling out. Some of the value for sealing a chimney and fireplace is because it is unused, is retired, or gone out of service, being a huge source of energy loss and also being valuable despite being out of service. Your professional advice would be greatly appreciated. Blocking up an unused fireplace . For a more lasting seal, check out this DIY article on how to permanently seal an unused fireplace. You will be sealing your chimney to keep debris and pests out of the flue and also to prevent condensation, which may lead to spring leakage into your basement. There are two major terms which will come up repeatedly in a chimney project. Your inflatable chimney pillow is meant to be used as a temporary seal until you are ready to take it out. Modifications can be made also to the existing structure. A retired chimney should be sealed only at the top or bottom. The cap must be durable enough to keep these nuisances out. Last Edited By Krjb Donovan. It is important however to maintain an equilibrium when sealing an unused chimney and fireplace. Who you call for the job determines how well your unused chimney and fireplace is sealed or blocked. 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. Step 2 – Purchase Your Flue Sealer or Flue Sealing Materials. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. In other words, such a chimney isn’t functional any longer or has retired. Operating a chimney can be stressful for some people. It is common for an unused chimney to be reused later on. A moderately skilled homeowner may be able to tackle the exterior repairs, as long as proper safety precautions are taken. Additional reasons include the extra work needed to keep a fireplace functional, being unable to use it, won’t depreciate the value of the property and the need for better indoor air quality. If your home is a two storey or higher, professional help likely will be required. The key to capping the top of the chimney is to install a barrier that will be moisture and tamper resistant and will not be affected by environmental factors such as snow, wind and sunlight. If your chimney is open at the top but is not in use, rainwater can travel all the way down to the bottom of the chimney stack. So, will it still allow the circulation of airflow? What more? Now plug the bottom of the flue with a chimney balloon or similar, DraughtBusters recommend using an old pillow in a couple of black sacks, and removing it again in the summer. One of the best ways (in my opinion) is to use a Chimney C Cap Chimney C Caps are a plastic terracotta cap with an bird/insect guard that sits in side the cap. 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