Chimney Advice

[Quaintcottage]

Hello , the Chimney in my property, has been blocked from the ceiling of the fire place.



At some point a log burning stove was installed ; a flue runs up the chimney breast to the roof , where it exits.

Prior to my purchase , the property was let as an AIR BnB , and the wood burning stove was removed and the chimney blocked off .

Is it better to leave the Chimney sealed , as it will prevent heat from escaping ? Or, is it better to re open the Chimney to allow airflow into the property, and prevent damp?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

 

[paulc]

Third option: Line the flue and put the stove back in to service. Would be a focal point during a cold dark winter night and provide some valuable heating.

 

[Quaintcottage]

Thank you for your reply but a burner is not for me .

 

[Lacan07]

Hello , the Chimney in my property, has been blocked from the ceiling of the fire place.

View attachment 13489

At some point a log burning stove was installed ; a flue runs up the chimney breast to the roof , where it exits.

Prior to my purchase , the property was let as an AIR BnB , and the wood burning stove was removed and the chimney blocked off .

Is it better to leave the Chimney sealed , as it will prevent heat from escaping ? Or, is it better to re open the Chimney to allow airflow into the property, and prevent damp?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Is it really blocked off on top of the stack though?

If you've no damp I'd be inclined to leave it as is. You won't want it open in the middle of winter.

 

[Quaintcottage]

Thank you for the reply . It is not blocked at the top of the stack , just at the bottom.

The property CC 1800s suffers from damp, and I have had conflicting advice with respect to the role of the Chimney .

Some people say it should be unblocked as old granite houses need the air flow for them to breathe, and prevent damp.

Other people are adamant that the Chimney should remain closed off to retain heat and stop drafts.

 

[a twig]

I put a “hit and miss” vent in a bedroom fireplace in a similar situation where it had been blocked off with a vermiculite sheet so we had it closed it off over winter to eliminate the draught but then opened it over summer to allow any damp built up over winter to dry out - helped keep the bedroom cool during summer as warm air could escape up the chimney and would draw up cold air from the semi-subterranean downstairs

 

[Quaintcottage]

That is a very good idea A Twig, thank you . I could just fabricate a vent and keep it open for the rest of the summer , and see if it helps with the damp, and close it over winter.

 

[Lacan07]

Thank you for the reply . It is not blocked at the top of the stack , just at the bottom.

The property CC 1800s suffers from damp, and I have had conflicting advice with respect to the role of the Chimney .

Some people say it should be unblocked as old granite houses need the air flow for them to breathe, and prevent damp.

Other people are adamant that the Chimney should remain closed off to retain heat and stop drafts.

If the stack has an open pot and you open it up at the bottom then try and get an air brick in just below the stack in the loft, this will reduce the draw of warm air considerably. In the winter you can do as Twig suggests or just put some pillows in a black big bag and shove it up the flue.