
How to Block Cold Air From a Chimney
- A Door with a View A glass door designed for a fireplace front not only helps keep cold air coming in through fireplace out, but adds a bit of decor to the room while preventing pets and young ones from touching the inside of the fireplace. ...
- Chimney-Top Chill Blocker ...
- Pillows, Plugs and Balloons ...
- Foam Insulation Solution ...
How do I get more heat from my fireplace?
How to Get More Heat Out of Your Fireplace
- FIREBACKS. A Fireback is a slab of cast-iron metal that is placed behind your logs. ...
- ROOM-TO-ROOM FANS. A room-to-room fan can be used to help transfer heated air from your fireplace’s room to the rest of your home.
- WE'RE HERE TO HELP. ...
- MORE RESOURCES: Read our Gas Fireplace Buying Guide to help you choose the right gas fireplace for your home! ...
How to safely start a fireplace fire?
How to Light a Fireplace: The “Log Cabin” Method
- Place two thin logs with no bark parallel to the back of the fireplace, about six inches apart from one another.
- Heap kindling—whether newspapers, twigs, or both—between the two logs from the previous step.
- Position two additional logs perpendicular to the first two. ...
How to safely use your fireplace?
Tips for Using Your Fireplace Safely
- Make Sure Your Fireplace Is Safe to Use. Fireplace safety is a matter of proper maintenance and cautious use. ...
- Build a Safe Fire. Open the flue before lighting a fire to ensure the fireplace will vent properly. ...
- Fireplace Safety Tips. Never leave a fire unattended! ...
How do you keep a fire going in a fireplace?
- Focus on building up a small flame in one area of your fire pit. ...
- Use extra tinder and kindling. Don’t try to light a whole log just yet. ...
- Birch trees have good bark for quick burning even when it’s raining as the bark has natural oils which repel moisture.
- If you can, place a tarp or something over your fire to block any rain. ...
How to keep cold air out of a room?
Why do you need to keep the damper closed on a fireplace?
What is the basic structure of a fireplace?
What is a chimney balloon?
What is insert fireplace?
Can a fireplace produce cold air?
See 1 more

Why is cold air coming through my gas fireplace?
If you have a direct vent gas fireplace, check to see if the glass is getting cold while it is not running. Normally, the pilot light should stay lit to prevent this. If the glass is cool & cold air is coming from the bottom of the fireplace, then you may have a poor insulation or negative pressure issue.
How do I keep my fireplace from being drafty?
To get air flowing up and out rather than causing smoke or cold fireplace drafts into your home, prime the flue before starting the main fire. This can be accomplished by holding a safely burning log or other source of heat such as a tightly rolled newspaper high up in the flue to heat the air.
How do you keep your house warm with a gas fireplace?
Heat the area of the home where you spend the most time (often the great room or basement) with a gas fireplace by turning the thermostat down and the fireplace up. This keeps those rooms warm and comfortable and reduces the amount of money spent heating rooms that aren't in use.
Why does my fireplace make my house cold?
A fireplace can make your house colder when not in use because some warm air in the home exits through the chimney and some cold air enters in its place. As a result, the house becomes colder. When the fire is on, the chimney sucks some heated air from the house, too.
Does cold air come through fireplace?
The throat damper is a standard fixture in most chimneys. But its location just above the fireplace allows cold air to flow down much of the chimney even when shut. And although the damper is closed, warping or rusting can break its airtight seal enabling cold air to enter the fireplace.
Can you put a thermostat on a gas fireplace?
A thermostat can absolutely be installed onto a gas fireplace so families can take the comfort of their fireplaces to the next level. Here are some of the many benefits of adding a thermostat for gas fireplaces, as well as some tips for doing so.
How produce the most heat from a fireplace?
The handle to open and close the damper should be above the fireplace opening. To open it, slide it to the right. To create fires that produce more heat, open the damper as wide as possible when lighting a fire. A wide-open damper will increase the amount of air reaching the fire and improve combustion.
Is it cheaper to run gas fireplace or central heat?
Usually it is more fuel efficient to have the fireplace on because it doesn't lose any heat traveling through ductwork, but that also means the heat is localized and won't warm the entirety of a large house. So if everyone is cozied up in one room it is often better to have the fireplace on.
Why does my fireplace not heat the room?
Check the damper in your fireplace to make sure that it's wide open to allow for maximum draw of air up the chimney, which in turn will increase the airflow to the fire. A damper is usually shut between fires to prevent the loss of warm air from your home.
Do gas fireplaces actually warm the house?
Overall, gas fireplaces are highly efficient when it comes to heating a room. Once a fire has been burning for some time, it's likely to heat a room rather quickly. The type of gas fireplace you have is likely to affect the fireplace's ability to heat a room efficiently.
How do you stop a draft from a brick fireplace?
Damper: Keeping your throat damper closed when the fireplace isn't in use is an ideal way to prevent drafty air. If the damper is rusty or warped, it may let cold air through, so have your damper inspected if you believe this is a problem.
How do you insulate around a fireplace?
Apply insulation (batt or spray foam) within the framing of the wall up to the ceiling or roof line. Install a thin structural sheathing material (e.g., drywall, rigid insulation, lightweight steel or aluminum sheeting). Bend the liner at the corners or seal seams with a bead of adhesive.
How to keep cold air out of fireplace?
Simply put, you’re a proper damper is the best way to keep cold air from entering your home through the fireplace. Dampers stand in contrast to chimney caps in that they are placed within your flue. They can be opened or closed at your command to cut off airflow.
How About Chimney Balloons?
These do what you might expect; you blow them up in your chimney, and they are supposed to block cold air. But the truth is that they are not especially effective—not to mention the fact that you won’t be able to use your fireplace when using one of these products.
What is Champion Chimneys?
is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has been serving customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving fully equipped trucks. We specialize in all aspects of your chimney system. Whether you need chimney and flue cleaning service or a full chimney rebuild or inspection, contact us at 443-Chimney today and let us fix all your chimney problems. Also, follow us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Do custom built fireplaces come with manuals?
I assume you have a custom built fireplace, not a prefab that would come with an owner's manual. But sometimes even the gas logs, retrofitted in a custom fireplace, come with a manual. Check to see if there is a brand name on the gas logs. If you find one, check to see if they have a website. sometimes owner's manuals are available as pdf files for downloading.
Do see through fireplaces have drafting problems?
See through fireplaces almost always have drafting problems. They look beautiful in photos, but most homeowners constantly complain about the actual functionality. We own & operate a chimney sweep & repair business, and we hear about these a lot. We try to help homeowners as best we can, but it's just not a good functioning design. Sorry to be negative, but just wanted to offer some advice before you invest the $$ into it.
Problems Caused By Cold Air Flowing Down Chimney
One of the first signs of trouble, when cold air comes in through chimneys, is a drop in temperature. This defeats the aim of heating as significant discomfort results from this situation.
Why Cold Air Flow Down Your Chimney
Cold air doesn’t suddenly begin to flow in through your fireplace without a reason.
Solution For Cold Air Coming in Through Fireplace
So far, we’ve seen the various reasons why you’re experiencing cold drafts through a fireplace. We’re not only going to focus on the causes, but also solutions to such problems.
How to disable wifi on Samsung oven? (Or where is the wifi unit located?)
I have a Samsung NE63A6511SB/AA and am trying to completely disable the wifi on the oven, so it will stop transmitting. It's causing interference and either way, just don't need it and want it to stop transmitting.
Oiling the chain on a beam saw attachment
Just started using a Prazi beam saw to cut some redwood beams, how often do I need to oil the chain? Is there a certain number of feet I need to cut before oiling is a good idea, or should I go by hours of use?
What is the best way to stop cold air dead in a fireplace?
If you have screen doors or an insert built into your fireplace, the vents along the top and/or bottom of the frame are known to leak up a storm. Installing a magnetic fireplace vent cover over those vents is a smart solution that stops cold air dead in its tracks.
What to do with a brick fireplace?
If you have a brick, wood-burning fireplace in your home, consider investing in a fireplace blanket. This fire-resistant, carbon fiber hearth cover is designed to attach to your metal screen via strong magnets. It effectively guards against cold air coming in and heat escaping into the atmosphere while you’re fast asleep.
What is a chimney plug?
Fireplace plugs (a.k.a. flue blockers , chimney pillows, draft stoppers and the trademarked Chimney Balloon) are an inexpensive way to choke off drafts when a fireplace is not in use. 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.
Why do you need a spring loaded chimney cap?
Besides guarding against rainwater and pesky wildlife entering your home through the chimney opening, adding a spring-loaded or lock-top chimney cap eliminates blustering downdrafts. An air-tight, adjustable cover helps improve fireplace efficiency while saving you money that would otherwise go up in smoke!
Can you put glass doors on an open fireplace?
Installing glass doors to the front of an open-hearth fireplace can nearly double the fireplace’s heat efficiency. Not only does the glass stop cold air from entering the room, but it also provides a safety barrier for children and pets.
Can a chimney be a wind tunnel?
A fireplace is a huge source of drafts from the cold outdoors. A chimney can act as a wind tunnel even when the damper is closed, sucking cold air down into your home through the fireplace opening.
Why does the pilot on my chimney work?
The pilot warms the chimney so the cold air does not transfer into your house and keeps the draft going up, so it pulls the air from inside the house to the flue. I turn my pilot off in summer.
Can you seal a flue vent free?
You are drafting from flue is it vent free. Insulating under fire place will not stop drafting, if it is is a vented set of logs the only thing you can do is close the damper, there should be a damper stop to prevent from closing all the way do not remove stop. If vent free you can seal the flue. See owners man. For safety limitations.
How to keep cold air out of a room?
Another way to keep cold air out of your room is to install a set of fireplace doors. Quality fireplace doors will create a strong seal at the mouth of the firebox and prevent air circulation when you’re not using your fireplace. Not only will doors keep your home warmer, they look fantastic, too.
Why do you need to keep the damper closed on a fireplace?
Remembering to keep the damper closed when the fireplace isn’t being used will block the cold air that wants to enter your home. Over years of use, dampers can become rusted or warped. If you suspect this may be a problem, have your damper inspected by a certified fireplace/chimney inspector.
What is the basic structure of a fireplace?
Fireplace and chimney basics. The basic structure and operation of a fireplace and chimney is something most homeowners readily understand. There’s a firebox, where fires burn, and a chimney, up which go smoke and combustion gasses. The path for smoke also is a path for air. When a fireplace isn’t in use, cold air from outside can come down ...
What is a chimney balloon?
Also known as a chimney balloon, this product fits up in the chimney and is inflated, creating a solid barrier against incoming air. Chimney plugs can be used any time you’re not burning a fire as an extra layer of protection. If you forget about the plug and light a fire, it will deflate on its own to allow smoke to exit up the chimney.
What is insert fireplace?
Inserts are built in a factory and run on wood, gas or pellets. They work on a closed-combustion system that produces and retains much larger amounts of heat than a masonry fireplace. They have their own vent pipe, which goes right up the chimney.
Can a fireplace produce cold air?
This means the majority of the heat the unit produces will be available as heat for the home. As you can see, cold air entering your home through your fireplace is a problem that can be addressed.

Dampers
- Simply put, you’re a proper damper is the best way to keep cold air from entering your home through the fireplace. Dampers stand in contrast to chimney caps in that they are placed within your flue. They can be opened or closed at your command to cut off airflow. Your chimney most likely has a damperinstalled already. But if you can still feel sign...
How About Chimney Balloons?
- If you’ve done some searching around the web about your chimney draft, you may have come across chimney balloons. These do what you might expect; you blow them up in your chimney, and they are supposed to block cold air. But the truth is that they are not especially effective—not to mention the fact that you won’t be able to use your fireplace when using one of these product…
A Nice Pair of Doors
- If all else fails, you should keep in mind that another way to keep cold air from emanating from your chimneyis installing doors. A good pair of fireplace doors won’t only look nice, but it will help somewhat to keep your home warm as well. If you find that your fireplace doors do little to keep cold air out, investing in a nicer pair could do the trick. Armed with the information we’ve shared …
Call The Experts at Champion Chimneys For Chimney Repairs and Sweeping Today!
- Champion Chimneys, Inc. is a fully licensed, bonded, and insured chimney service company that has been serving customers in Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County, Maryland since 2001. Our team is trained and certified by Certified Chimney Professionals, Inc. (CCP, Inc.). Courteous service is our trademark, and our crews arrive on time in uniform, driving f…