Making my fireplace efficient

[licollin27]

My husband and I bought our first house last May. We have a wood burning fireplace but are not be interested in using it. It is completely open, no damper, and we are losing money by our heat just going straight up the chimney. Eventually we would like an electric insert, there is no gas running to the house.

My question is should we have the chimeny completely sealed off at the top or put in a damper? What will be more energy efficient and what do we need when we get an electric insert?

 

[Boiler74]

Most homes stores sell an inflatable chimney balloon that you put up in the flue and inflate until it seals it off.

Like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Chimney-Ballo...id=1390748118&sr=8-3&keywords=chimney+balloon

 

[HotCoals]

Yes block the flue off if you're not using it.
A electric fireplace would not require a chimney of any sorts.

 

[licollin27]

Will this work even if we have nothing at the top to keep the balloon from flying out? We don't have a cap or a damper or anything currently in place. We are looking for a solution to keep heat in and rain and animals out. We are thinking about permanently sealing it off but are worried about resale and don't know what kind of ventilation we would need for an electric insert.

 

[BrotherBart]

In the first place you need to get a cap on that thing to keep the critters out. And the chimney balloon fits tightly and isn't going to go flying anywhere.

A cheaper and better answer is a chimney block off plate like this. But without the hole for the chimney liner.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/wiki/make-a-damper-sealing-block-off-plate/

 

[HotCoals]

Will this work even if we have nothing at the top to keep the balloon from flying out? We don't have a cap or a damper or anything currently in place. We are looking for a solution to keep heat in and rain and animals out. We are thinking about permanently sealing it off but are worried about resale and don't know what kind of ventilation we would need for an electric insert.

You could put some roxul up there instead of the balloon.
You won't need ventilation with a electric fireplace.

 

[weatherguy]

Just measure the flue and go to home depot and get a cap that fits, takes 5 minutes to install with a screwdriver.

 

[bluedogz]

I think this is the first thread I've ever seen that asks, "How do I NOT burn wood?"

 

[begreen]

A plate of stainless steel siliconed to the top of the tile cap would be cheap and effective. Just be sure to affix a permanent, engraved sign on the back wall of the fireplace indicating the flue is capped at top and unusable.

 

[swestall]

If you can do the tasks mentioned above you should do them quickly. If you can't go to Home Depot and get enough fiber glass insulation to stuff in the damper opening so that it is closed. Then get a chimney sweep to come and fix the problem with a block off as BG stated above.
And, if you like wood, you might consider getting an insert to burn it in. That will save heating cost and (just ask anyone here) burning wood is very much fun!