Q. Help! We get a constant breeze from our fireplace into the family room. It’s like having an open window. We did put in a gas insert, but it was no help and have tried different types of chimney caps, but there’s still a breeze. Any ideas?
Leonard Renz
A. “It’s very common to feel a breeze from a fireplace,” said Michael Allen Spatafora of Alltypes Fireplace, Grill & Patio of Chicago. Chimneys are designed to move lots of air. Any chimney has the potential to be a massive air leak if it has a damper that is leaky or wide open. Even with the flue closed, warm air can get sucked out of the house through the chimney in the winter, and cold air leaks out in the summer.
Some suggestions:
– Replace the damper if it isn’t tight-fitting.
– Install tight-fitting glass doors ($400 to $600), Spatafora suggested. Although they won’t stop air leaks altogether, they’ll decrease the amount of air that leaks through the chimney.
– Consider installing a high-efficiency fireplace insert. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the inserts function like a wood stove, fitting into the masonry fireplace or on its hearth and using the existing chimney. You also must install a flue collar that continues from the insert to the top of the chimney. A quality fireplace insert usually costs $2,000 to $3,000.
– If you use the fireplace infrequently, look into plugs. Options include inflatable pillow-like bags or flexible foam plugs that sell for about $50.
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