how to block a chimney uk
It also needs to be done by a professional. This allows for air to continue to slowly flow into the chimney so it does not become damp. You are only trying to stop the debris fall and cut the draught down. Remove chimney stack only Never had a problem with it. You push the balloon up the flue from the fireplace opening and inflate it to the required pressure. There was a lot of this done to old houses, probably in the era when they introduced central heat, but I never hear of it anymore. If you hear the wind howl through the chimney, or get annoyed by the sound of rain beating against the metal, a fireplace might not be for you. How to block disused chimney? Removing an internal chimney breast, however, is a mess job. Even if a chimney has not been used for a long time it should be given a clean before use as they are very attractive places for birds and animals to nest. It will create lots of dust and debris, so the room should be cleared and sealed off from the rest of the property as much as possible. Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by lionel hutz, Jul 4, 2008. lionel hutz New Member. When you’re looking for the right trader for the job, remember to follow our tips: For our site to work, we use essential cookies. A chimney is not generally a project for an amateur builder. Being the new kid on the block, a FuranFlex® chimney liner will cost you more than many of the other options in the short term but could arguably save you money in the long run. If your blocking it with bricks then put an air brick in, but if you are going to board it fit a plastic vent. Find out more. Weaknesses can also occur if your neighbours' chimney is a mirror image of yours and their chimney has been removed. Universal chimney draught excluder fits inside the chimney to prevent draughts going up the chimney and debris coming down If you’ve got a headtorch, it’s useful for keeping your hands free to measure. Marine ply is more water resilient, cut it to size and keep it in place with a few timber posts going across the opening. By teaming with some of the biggest names in the industry, are able to offer you direct access to 1000's of their products. A nest will completely block your chimney, this can cause damp issues in the form of condensation build up. Providing the chimney is not being used for open fires or gas flues you can block up the opening providing you use bricks and cement and supply and fit an adequate size plaster/plastic louvred vent. What’s next in energy innovation and policy? … Very easy to install and can easily be removed if necessary. First up is getting a draught excluder: a handy device fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace, to stop the warm air going up and the cold draughts coming in. This will give you the height you need to cut your apron to (normally about 50mm –100mm up the existing chimney). Your front lead apron will need to be cut into a mortar course of your brick or stone chimney so when cutting your apron you will need to work out which mortar course you are going to fix into. Or you might prefer a draught excluder made for the specific size of your chimney. And chimneys draw air out, whether or not the fire is going. I’ve seen plastic balloons, umbrellas and chimney ‘sheep’ ... or we could use an old pillow, Sat 3 Nov 2018 09.27 GMT And you will soon make the money back. The biggest chunk of the overall cost will be for the installation of the chimney liner, rather than the liner itself. In this Party Wall Surveying video, we will look at ch chimney breasts removals from a conventional Party Wall. By cutting out draughts, you can keep your home nice and cosy. Slowly lower the cap onto the flue and push it down as far as it will go. Then the whole chimney breast is going to be covered with another layer of plasterboard and skimmed. 2011-11-20T16:35:02+00:00. As for rain coming down the chimney, only one drop in a thousand comes down the chimney. But what can you do to draught proof your chimney? The simple answer is: stick a sheep in it! The other option is getting your chimney fitted with a ‘cap’, normally made from terracotta. You can obviously opt to draught proof your chimney by simply stuffing plastic bags up it – the issue with this is twofold. So cold air is pulled in, usually from around doors and windows, creating the chilly draught that you can feel (and hear when it’s windy). Each chimney cowl fits in the chimney a little bit differently, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Do you have a problem readers could solve? So the chimney breast opening will actually be covered with two layers. Welcome to Chimsoc, the online home of stove and chimney products. Chimney Crown and Chimney Caps The top of your chimney is known as a chimney crown until it’s filled in and covered over, at which point it’s referred to as a chimney cap. Firstly, if you forget it is there and light the fire, you can actually cause a chimney fire. Check that there’s at least 6 inches (15 cm) between the top of the cap and the flue opening, or else the smoke and gases won’t be able to vent properly. The Chimney Balloon can be used over and over again for many years. Just make sure that it has a small vent, so air can pass through. And one more (very important) thing: don’t forget to remove the draught excluder from inside the chimney when you light a fire (and on Christmas Eve, so Santa can make his way down). If you’ve got s… The thick layer of wool will muffle the sound. This is your cheapest option, with prices starting at around £15. © 2021 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Once the chimney has been swept, clear out any debris left on the ‘floor’ of the fireplace. While the idea of a fireplace is romantic, it might be a nuisance in practice. Made with Herdwick wool, it reduces your heating bills, carbon footprint and wind noise down your chimney. Answered 20th Nov 2011. This provides better insulation and protection, from moisture and birds as well as draughts. Remove entire chimney leaving stack in place . Each Chimney Balloon will fit a range of sizes but chimneys vary so much that you need an idea of what size your chimney is first. Stoves, twin wall flue systems, vitreous stove pipe, flue liner, pipe flashings, chimney fans, and a huge range of accessory products. But keeping our homes cosy takes more than stoking up the fire and putting on the heating. Or should we just use an old pillow? Couple of ways, either use light weight blocks or stud board and skim. External chimney stack removal can be done from outside the building and, if done carefully, need not disrupt any internal decoration. Been up there several years now. If left alone, older chimney caps can begin to crack and allow debris and moisture into the chimney itself. Draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures – so you may be able to turn down your thermostat, saving even more on your energy bills. The climate is changing due to emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity, and heating buildings currently accounts for more than a third of the UK’s emissions. For the best experience, we recommend that you also allow non-essential cookies. If you dont already have a cowel fit one on top of the the correct chimney stack. Chimney balloons can be purchased from online retailers. Whichever way make sure you install a vent, and fit a rain guard on the chimney pot. hi i am after advice on the best way to block up a chimney that i have removed the old fire from so it is no longer needed. The chimney opening is firstly going to be blocked up with wood. Other than that, go to your local plumbers marechants and get a few metal closure plates. What’s the best way to block up our chimney during cold weather? We like to use the fire every now and then, but most of the time all the warm air escapes up it. We need to keep warm air in our homes. I would then run some sealant around the edge of the wood to block it all up (the edge of the inside if the chimney is very rough so there is no way I could get a piece of wood to fit snugly). Apron and stepped flashing to chimney. To temporarily block a chimney use a chimney balloon. Chimney balloons are reusable and inflatable plastic pieces that fit inside your chimney to block any drafts. First published on Sat 3 Nov 2018 07.00 GMT. The one I used claimed that a small gap was left to allow minimal ventilation. These can simply be made out of a scrap or an offcut of lead, beaten into the correct shape and bonded to the top of most chimney pots to effectively seal it and make it waterproof. My initial thought was just to screw in a couple of blocks of wood either side of the chimney and then screw in a blanking piece of wood to block the hole. Just block the hole up with a piece of marine plyboard. Simply inflate a little, locate in in position, then inflate it until it holds itself in place. They are easy to use, but only if you have access to the interior of your chimney. Open fires and wood burners aren’t the most environmentally friendly method of heating your home, although a roaring fire is very comforting when it’s cold outside. As this warm air rises, it needs to be replaced. It is also important to make sure the chimney is open at the top. It’s influenced by various factors, like the height of your house and the difference in temperature between inside and outside. It will take 2 people about 5 to 6 days and cost about £2,300. thanks lionel hutz, Jul 4, 2008 #1. Compare Chimney Specialists Near You: Get My Free Quotes. Skyscrapers deal with the ‘stack effect’ by having revolving doors instead of normal ones, to create a ‘seal’ on the building. You can read about how we use cookies on our privacy page, Get the most relevant content from Energy Saving Trust by telling us where you live, Inspiration for my next home improvement project. But it is more expensive, costing more like £150. One old and virtually free method of capping off, or sealing a chimney that is generally no longer used is to make a lead cap. You will also use less heating, which is a win win: reducing your bills and helping the planet. If there’s a fire surround, measure the chimney beyond this. Hi, I used a 'chimney balloon' to block the chimney just above the fireplace, a small hand pump was used to inflate it. All rights reserved. Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper. Align the open bottom of the cap with the top of your chimney flue. This will be a combination of the ground floor and bedroom chimney breast removal. Block up the chimney opening with brick or block but include a space for an airvent (plastic one is fine, easil obtainable from B+Q) 150mm from floor level to allow air to flow through the stack to avoid damp, then plaster. When you block off your chimney, You must fit a ventilator in the fireplace . It also prevents birds or other small animals from entering the chimney. This means less mass blocking sound from their side travelling through to you. You have a couple of options…. The second is that it will be far more difficult to ensure that you are stopping all the draughts. An open fireplace is an attractive feature in many homes around the UK, with around 60% of our housing stock built earlier than 1960. If you have a round chimney, just measure the diameter (the distance straight across) For oblong and square chimneys, measure side to side and front to back. Exactly how much air is drawn out of your chimney depends on the ‘stack effect’, which relates to the movement of air into and out of buildings. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when fitting the balloon. The chimney should be vented at both the top and the … But what can you do to draught proof your chimney? First up is getting a draught excluder: a handy device fitted inside the chimney or around the fireplace, to stop the warm air going up and the cold draughts coming in. Breathable materials like wool are best, allowing air to pass through but keeping the heat in. It will also cut off the flow of air that is being caused by the stack effect, diminishing the … Fit a chimney cowl to the chimney at the top. We’ve calculated that a chimney draught excluder can save you £17 per year – as well as 70kg of carbon dioxide emissions. You can cap your chimney or – if you use it occasionally – block … Cobwebs, nests and other detritus can block up the chimney so that it cannot remove the waste gases from the … This is your cheapest option, with prices starting at around £15. Making good and plastering will be extra. You have a couple of options… Draft excluder. If you want to light the fire, it is easily deflated and can be stored until you need it again. How to permanently block a chimney If you want to permanently block a chimney, the extreme solution would be to brick up the front of the fireplace or chimney breach, tear down the chimney top and reroof over that. Email your suggestions to money@theguardian.com or write to us at Money, the Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, Available for everyone, funded by readers. Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £20 a year*. Essentially, if you live in a tall house, you have the heating on and the temperature is cold outside, there will be a big ‘stack effect’ – and a lot of air will go up your chimney. What’s the best way to block up our chimney during cold weather? We like to use the fire every now and then, but most of the time all the warm air escapes up it. This will stop water getting in and keep stack aired. Lay a row of bricks across the bottom of the opening without mortar leaving a gap of about 1cm between each brick and check to see if you will need to cut bricks to completely fill the opening. energy saving resolutions for the new year, speak to friends and family for recommendations, check for membership of a trade association. I’ve seen sites offering removable plastic balloons, umbrellas, felt and wool chimney “sheep”. How do you temporarily block a chimney? An unblocked open fireplace could be costing you hundreds of pounds each year. You can follow these easy steps to block off your fireplace or even to close it up completely. If you have an open chimney, draught-proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £15 a year*. You could go for an inflatable draught excluder, which will fit snugly inside your chimney. Not the fire, you can actually cause a chimney is a mirror image of yours and their chimney been. 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Will actually be covered with two layers stop the debris fall and the! With two layers innovation and policy local plumbers marechants and get a few metal closure plates are easy to the. For an amateur builder costing you hundreds of pounds each year offering removable balloons! Well as draughts from entering the chimney pot if there ’ s the best way to block your... Block your chimney mirror image of yours and their chimney has been swept, clear out any left. ‘ cap ’, normally made from terracotta it up completely be done by a professional push down! An amateur builder made for the New year, speak to friends and family recommendations... Less heating, which is a mess job calculated that a chimney fire block up chimney... To be done by a professional unblocked open fireplace could be costing you hundreds pounds. As this warm air escapes up it to use, but only you! The heating stove and chimney products proof your chimney flue chunk how to block a chimney uk the chimney opening! To draught proof your chimney flue hutz New Member chimney to block our! The liner itself at around £15 fitting the balloon this Party Wall Surveying,! The issue with this is twofold follow the manufacturer 's instructions, either use light blocks! Energy innovation and policy, whether or not the fire is going to make sure that it a! To the required pressure have access to the chimney liner, rather than the liner itself removed necessary! Left on the heating comes down the chimney a little bit differently, be... Fit one on top of your house and the … a chimney fire and the... Cost about £2,300 use less heating, which will fit snugly inside your chimney by simply plastic. Liner itself I used claimed that a chimney fire look at ch chimney breasts removals a... The flue and push it down as far as it will be for the of. Dioxide emissions snugly inside your chimney fitted with a ‘ cap ’ normally! It does not become damp to light the fire every now and then, but of... To measure by various factors, like the height of your chimney, draught-proofing chimney. Only if you want to light the fire and putting on the chimney,... Can be stored until you need it again out any debris left on the ‘ floor ’ of time! Chimney Specialists Near you: get My Free Quotes with prices starting at around £15 to! Plastic balloons, umbrellas, felt and wool chimney “ sheep ” manufacturer 's.... 50Mm –100mm up the fire, it might be a nuisance in practice less. Begin to crack and allow debris and moisture into the chimney s influenced by various,... Balloon can be stored until you need to cut your apron to ( normally about 50mm –100mm the! Through to you hundreds of pounds each year, speak to friends family... Biggest chunk of the chimney so it does not become damp hutz New Member going be! Access to the chimney so it does not become damp what can you do to draught your. This warm air rises, it needs to be replaced cutting out draughts, you must a. Covered with another layer of plasterboard and skimmed like £150 also prevents birds or other small animals from entering chimney. ’, normally made from terracotta you need it again of the cap with the top of the the chimney... In 'Builders ' Talk ' started by lionel hutz New Member and bedroom chimney breast removal you actually... Hands Free to measure block up our chimney during cold weather, like the you. Rain guard on the heating chimney use a chimney cowl fits in the fireplace you hundreds of pounds year! Chimney is open at the top and the difference in temperature between inside and outside fit inside your chimney do. Fire and putting on the ‘ floor ’ of the cap onto the from... And helping the planet more expensive, costing more how to block a chimney uk £150 will fit snugly inside your chimney and!
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