How to Reduce Drafts From Your Fireplace & Chimney

04/28/21

A fireplace is supposed to help keep your home warm and cozy, but drafts can prevent that from happening. It makes sense that a fireplace would have a draft, because it opens to a hole to the outside. Yet properly designed fireplaces have mechanisms to prevent drafts, so if you’re noticing that, chances are there is a problem. This flow of air through a chimney is commonly referred to as The Stack Effect. Here is a closer look at what causes a fireplace draft and what you can do to rectify it.

Poor Airflow

Airflow is important to keeping your home comfortable, and it is also important to reducing drafts from your fireplace. If your home is sealed too tightly, airflow doesn’t happen, and air does not flow up the chimney. Instead, it will push down through the chimney and into your home. Improving airflow through adequate ventilation can help reduce the problem of a chimney draft.

Problems from Dampers

Your fireplace is equipped with a damper that blocks the air from entering your home. When you aren’t using the fireplace, it should be closed tightly. Over time dampers can warp or rust, and this can create gaps that let the cold air in. if you are noticing drafts, this is one of the first things to check. Replacing or repairing your dampers or adding a top-sealing damper at the top of the chimney can solve the problem.

Wrong Chimney Size

The size of your chimney is important to the overall function of your fireplace. If it is sized improperly for your use, it will create drafts. This often occurs when you change from a wood-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace and add a gas insert. If the liner is not sized properly and insulated well, you may experience drafts.

Chimney size problems can also create issues with creosote deposits, requiring more frequent cleanings. If a chimney is too small, creosote buildup happens more quickly, and this increases your risk of a chimney fire. As a result, keeping the chimney size proper for the size of the fireplace is vital.

Other Solutions for Fireplace Drafts

If these three common causes and solutions do not fix your chimney draft, then you may want to consider one of these solutions:

• Glass Doors – Glass doors in the front of the fireplace will close it when you aren’t using it. They look attractive and can greatly reduce the feel of drafts. They also allow you to keep using the chimney.

• Fireplace Cover – A fireplace cover, also called a draft guard, blocks the opening of the fireplace when you are not using it. It attaches to the metal facing on the fireplace with magnets, so you can remove it when you want to light a fire.

• Fireplace Insert – A fireplace insert is a wood stove that inserts into your fireplace to allow you to continue having a wood-burning fire, but without the drafts from a traditional fireplace and chimney.

• Relining – If the fireplace lining is damaged, it can cause leaks. Relining replaces the lining and helps protect against leaks.

If you are dealing with drafts from your fireplace and want proven solutions to protect the warmth and comfort of your home, contact the team at Chimney.com to learn more about our fireplace draft prevention solutions.