Fireplaces are designed to bring warmth, comfort, and ambiance into your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners notice cold air coming through the fireplace when it’s not in use. This issue is common and can make rooms feel drafty, uncomfortable, and harder to heat during colder months.
Why Does This Happen?
Fireplaces and chimneys are open systems by design. Their main purpose is to provide a clear drafting path for smoke and harmful gases to exit safely outdoors. While this design is essential for safety, it also creates a direct pathway for cold outside air to enter your home. The good news is that there are several effective ways to solve this problem, ranging from simple upgrades to more advanced heating solutions.
When dealing with cold air coming through a fireplace, there are two main approaches to consider. You can prevent cold air from entering your home, or you can increase the amount of heat your fireplace produces. In many cases, combining both methods delivers the best results.
Keep Cold Air Out of Your Fireplace
Stopping cold air at its source is often the easiest and most cost effective solution. These options focus on sealing the chimney and fireplace when it is not in use.
Check and Upgrade Your Fireplace Damper
Your fireplace damper is the first line of defense against cold air entering your home. Located just above the firebox, the damper is designed to open when a fire is burning and close tightly when the fireplace is not in use.
Over time, dampers can become warped, rusted, or damaged. When this happens, cold air from the upper flue can slip past the damper and flow into your living space. A professional inspection can determine whether your damper is sealing properly or needs repair or replacement.
Some homeowners choose to add a top sealing damper at the top of the chimney. This type of damper provides an additional airtight seal and helps block cold air before it ever travels down the flue.
Install Fireplace Doors
Fireplace doors are both practical and attractive. Typically made from durable glass and metal, they act as a barrier between your home and the chimney opening. When the fireplace is not in use, closed doors help prevent cold air from entering the room.
In addition to reducing drafts, fireplace doors enhance safety and add a polished, decorative touch to your hearth. Many homeowners are surprised at how much warmer their space feels after installing quality fireplace doors.
Create More Efficient Heat
If your fireplace is contributing to cold drafts and not providing much warmth, improving its heating efficiency may be the best long term solution.
Install a High Efficiency Fireplace Insert
One of the most effective ways to eliminate cold air drafts and increase comfort is by installing a fireplace insert. Inserts are factory built units designed to fit directly into your existing masonry fireplace.
Fireplace inserts are heavily insulated and use their own efficient venting system. Many modern inserts achieve heat efficiency ratings of 85 percent or higher. This means most of the heat they produce stays inside your home where it belongs.
By comparison, traditional open masonry fireplaces often have efficiency ratings as low as 10 to 20 percent. Not only do inserts provide significantly more heat, but they also reduce drafts by sealing off the chimney more effectively.
Let Harding The Fireplace Help
If you are dealing with cold air coming through your fireplace, Harding The Fireplace can help you find the right solution. From damper inspections and chimney accessories to beautiful fireplace doors and high efficiency inserts, our team is here to improve your comfort and energy efficiency.
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