Do Unused Chimneys Need Ventilation?
Yes
, chimneys need to breathe, even if they won’t be used anymore. … This will allow air to pass through the chimney and help prevent problems caused by moisture. If your damper is near the firebox, you can use insulation to seal the chimney.
Do unused chimneys need ventilation?
Unused chimneys not only waste a lot of heat, they also pose a potential damp problem as well as being a cause of smoking fireplaces and stoves.
You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator
. … The flue ventilator stops rain entry to the chimney but still allows a small amount of air passage for ventilation.
How much ventilation does a chimney need?
All solid fuel open fireplaces need an air vent and the size of the air vent should be
50% of the throat opening to the chimney
.
Do all chimneys have a flue?
Understanding Flues
An unlined chimney is technically a flue
, even though an unlined chimney is a fire hazard. This can cause confusion, as many view flues not just as a passage for venting, but as a safe passage for venting.
Why is there a vent in my chimney?
An outside air source is a vent that
provides fresh air to feed the fire
.
Is it OK to block off a chimney?
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.
Can a blocked chimney cause damp?
We often get asked ‘can a blocked chimney cause damp’? … If your chimney is blocked up and is capped and sealed at the top,
the lack of ventilation could be causing chimney condensation to build up in the void
, meaning that when your house warms up, condensation collects and forms damp on the chimney breast surface.
How do you permanently cap a chimney?
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. Press the metal into the caulk. The goal of this metal cap is to prevent rain from coming in, but it shouldn’t be an airtight seal.
What is the difference between a flue and a chimney?
A flue is the channel, pipe, or tube through which gases and smoke travel from a source of combustion (fireplace, furnace, boiler) to the outside environment. … A chimney is, on the other hand, in its simplest definition,
the housing that encases the flue
. It is usually made of masonry, brick, or stone.
Is a damper and flue the same thing?
A damper is located in the flue of your chimney
. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.
Why do chimneys have two flues?
A flue is a venting system, each system needs its own so
If you heat your home with oil or gas
and have a fireplace you would have two flues. Often times they are in one chimney so if you were to look down the chimney it would be separated into two venting system inside one chimney.
Does a direct vent fireplace need a chimney?
Direct vent is by far the most common venting method and is the newest form of venting, invented by the founders of Heat & Glo in the 1980s. It remains a popular choice because of its efficiency, safety, flexibility and
the fact that it does not require an existing chimney
.
Can I cover the vents on my fireplace?
Fans can be disconnected or removed, of course, but
the vents are not intended to be covered or plugged
. May not matter as much in the case of the gas log set, but I would be very concerned about the one that looks like it has a wood insert or door set on there.
What is the vent at the bottom of my fireplace for?
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.
