Masonry experts can tell you if the chimney can be salvaged and simply sealed off or repaired for less cost than removal. The MARCONE chimney pot can be useful to increase a chimneys height and help to counter down draught. If it has been sealed from the top, you might need to open it up again and protect it with a chimney cap, instead. Do I need to have my chimney swept if I have a gas fire? Wood-burning stoves also have flues and chimneys that need a yearly inspection. Experts in Chimneys, Ventilation, Chimney Sweep +34 615 465 831. I'm bricking up an unused fireplace in a house about 30 years old. While they do require some building work, they are incredibly efficient and available in an array of style choices. And how do you evaluate a settling foundation? Electrical - AC & DC - What to do with unused breakers in breaker box? At the top, the best option is to fit a terracotta cowl or elevated cap to the chimney pot, which keeps the rain out but allows the air to enter. Question: Do I need cleanout doors on my chimneys? First, you need to know what makes a chimney do its job. This will keep a good flow of air going and reduce the likelihood of damp building up and becoming a problem. It seems to me that if 18" and a 90 degree bend is not much insurance, I would already be doomed. Why should the room require ventilation through the flue? Could I not vent the unused chimney from the bottom (as I can hide the grille there)? Can you remove a chimney? It may also help to introduce some room ventilation on the same side as the prevailing wind, helping to equalize the pressure at the top and bottom of chimneys. What should I do with an unused chimney flue. A professional chimney sweep can advise how often your chimney ought to be swept. This chimney currently has three flues, they are all at the same height. Take the chimney down – easy to do with small chimneys; A breather cowl – allows for some ventilation of the flue/stack; Find a RATED Roofing Contractor . Where can I find a good chimney sweep? said: Hi, I have two cleanout doors--the ash cleanout from the fireplace. That seems like a really bad plan if you are trying to be efficient. Staining on the chimney breast is common, and it is caused by moisture within the chimney stack interacting with the soot. Balanced Flue Gas Fires. A chimney cap is a covering for the top of your chimney, and it usually includes wire mesh. How do Chimneys Work? I need to block of 3 chimneys so my very agile cat won't climb up. Once a multi-fuel chimney cowl has been fitted, you shouldn’t ever need to replace it as even if you change the type of fireplace or stop using the chimney altogether, the multi-purpose cowl can be left in place. Many of our stoves have been tested to show they do not cause the upper surface of the hearth to raise above 100°C. As simple as chimneys look in appearance, many people often wonder in fascination about how do chimneys really work. You will need to speak to a lot of experts before beginning your project. Home; Enterprise. Won’t Depreciate the Property Value ; When sealing up an unused chimney doesn’t depreciate its value significantly, it becomes increasingly appealing. You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator. (Sept 10, 2011) Do I need cleanout doors? Do I need to keep these vents (in both used and unused?). And even if you’re not using it, your natural-gas or oil-fueled appliances are. One of these will be having a log burner put in and the other won't be used. Details of the planning permission and building regulation regimes for Flue, Chimney or Soil and Vent Pipe in England Our flexible chimney liner kits are great value for money and will ensure best performance for your stove. One of the most common questions asked on the HETAS Consumer Helpline is Do I need my chimney lined? How do I know whether they are functioning or not and before you Many homeowners question whether or not it’s necessary to install a chimney cap.Even though relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to install, this little piece of metal atop your chimney can actually save you thousands of dollars on unnecessary chimney repairs. You also will need to place a ventilation brick or panel at the base of the chimney to keep the air flowing. Logged Wookey. I just need to shake this thought out a little more. 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. Ventilation in the form of air bricks should also be fitted into the brickwork near the top of the stack to stop internal condensation. Blocking up an unused fireplace . - I have 3 breakers in my breaker box that are disconnected. Can you buy any size-adjustable chimney blockers? (The gas furnace and gas water heater both go directly into the flue). Search. People are normally advised not to do this, and to leave the chimney as a gert big, ventilated, thermal bridge sucking the heat out of your house. 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. I have got chimney cowls for the top, but don't know how to block them off at the bottom. As a guideline for open fireplaces a permanent air vent should be provided giving a free area of ventilation of at least 50% of the throat opening of the fireplace. Check out this website and read reviews of RATED roofing contractors. That’s how important it is that a chimney works properly. Cracked chimney stack mortar. Sponsored Links Also see… Chimney Cowls – Some of the best chimney cowls and hot to fit; Chimneys – Commonly used phrases, leaks and anatomy of a … Question: My husband is replacing our roof. For example a very large stove with a rating of 9kW would need a vent of (4 x 550m 2 = 2200mm 2) that is (sq root of 2200) a vent with the dimension of 46.9mm by 46.9mm or roughly 4.7 cms square. Newspaper, straw or chimney balloons won't work because the cats will destroy them or pull them out, so I need another option. Best thing to do with unused chimneys is remove them completely. About Us; What you need, when you need it; Commitment to society . Structural experts will need to be contacted to explain any potential concerns in the event you are removing the breast from one or more floors. BUT, I'm rubbish at DIY. (See diagram 4). It is necessary to fit a 'hit and miss' ventilator to provide ventilation for the flue." By: Ari Marantz Posted/Updated : 2015-08-29 Tweet; Post; ShareThis; Print; Email; Robert Linder / The Associated Press Capping or sealing an unused chimney will prevent air intrusion and stop pests from entering the home. They can even provide ventilation for chimneys that are no longer used to prevent condensation. What to do for other chimneys and heat sources in the home. Sealing unused chimney need not be a complicated task. Pinterest; Facebook; Twitter; Email ; By: Dwight Barnett Related To: Foundations Maintenance. While those fireplaces most likely have chimneys, your home’s primary heating system also is very likely to have a chimney or chimneys to carry heat, smoke, and dangerous flue gasses out of your home. How Do Chimneys Work? I have 2 currently unused fireplaces on my ground floor the chimneys of which have ugly vents in the upstairs bedrooms. Products. (I never use that cleanout) and the cleanout door for the heating area, which I also don't use. It had an open flame gas fire in it previously (with a nasty brick fireplace!). These chimneys will work well if they are maintained – re-pointed, re-flaunched in lime, vegetation removed and with a more appropriate lead or metal flashing checked into the brick joint to dispel rainwater at the base. If you are unsure, please give us a call and we can discuss this with you. So even if you no longer use it as a traditional fireplace, you’ll still need to keep it in good working order. For houses without a chimney, installing a balanced flue gas fire is a very popular option. It makes a great deal of sense to install a chimney cap, when you look at the benefits.There are, however, some problems which can occur because of a chimney topper, particularly involving wire mesh. Sorry if this seems argumentative, I do not mean it to be so. Jonathon Greenall from Clearview Stoves, says, “You can run a bad stove on a good chimney but not a good stove on a bad chimney. We always advise that chimneys in older properties should be lined. English. No other room has such ventilation. Not only that, it could be home to fur or feathered critters who aren’t afraid to leave nesting debris and other “calling cards” behind. If you were to put it simply, your chimney plays a very key role in keeping your house warm and also ensuring that your fireplace functions properly. Get in Touch. Do I Need a Chimney Cap? Ventilation problems are also an issue in rooms that have a boarded up fireplace. In the room below, it is necessary to have chimney vent installed just below ceiling height. Pretty it isn’t. The flue ventilator stops rain entry to the chimney but still allows a small amount of air passage for ventilation. There is a regulation that says your installer must satisfy themselves that the chimney is free from defects and suitable for its intended use. WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT. English; Español; Français +34 941 436 060. Unused chimneys are also prone to leaks, which can lead to damp in the home (something which every homeowner wants to avoid). When an installer checks your chimney they may find that the only way to provide you with a compliant and safe installation is to line the chimney. It's worth noting that although the chimney stack was originally outside, there has subsequently been an extension built on the far side, so the stack is now internal for most of the way up until about 2/3rd of the way up the second storey. Blockages in chimneys connected to gas fires can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide and other harmful gases. Add ventilation to unused chimneys; Make sure you chimney is lined properly; If your chimney is sealed up and is causing damp, you need to create some ventilation. A Simple Cap. The science behind the workings and the function of chimneys is also very interesting. Question: I'm looking for advice on how to cap off an unused chimney. Shop All Gas Fires Without Chimneys 1. Yes, although less frequently. 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. Plus, you can even decide to have it removed altogether. Cowls rarely do much good in pressure zone situations. 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. A: Unused flues should be capped at the top, to minimise rainwater ingress. Hearth requirements. derekmt. We recommend that all unused flues are kept well vented. Underground mine ventilation provides a flow of air to the underground workings of a mine of sufficient volume to dilute and remove dust and noxious gases (typically NO x, SO 2, methane, CO 2 and CO) and to regulate temperature.The source of these gases are equipment that runs on diesel engines, blasting with explosives, and the orebody itself. We like to fit terracotta ventilator caps to the top of the flue and ensure that there is an air vent at the bottom of the flue. He is adding a roof turbine with a thermostatic control to reduce the heat in our attic (old, wood-frame house). Chimney can be Shortened if Truly Unused. Flue ventilators can be found on our chimney pot page. If that's too much trouble, then fill them with insulation is next best. It’s an integral part of your home’s ventilation system. Any unused flues should be capped with a mushroom pot and cowl which allows for free ventilation in the flue. It is important that unused chimneys are vented at both the top and the bottom, to allow a constant flow of air. Chimney flues for stoves and fireplaces. If there is no combustion occurring in the room and the room is heated by the furnace through ductwork (like the rest of the house), why the need for ventilation through the chimney?