Hello all!
I live in an apartment that has a fireplace in our living room. I have been noticing that the house feels like a window or something is open, and I figured out this morning that its the fireplace. We dont use the fireplace because of our son and other reasons so we have our couch in front of it but it is still really drafty and cold in here.
Is there anything that I can do about it? Is there an insert or something that can be put in or in front of it to close it off better?
Thanks ladies!
Thanks for the advice ladies. Turns out that the damper (?) or lever wasnt open, soooo I guess our apartments just suck! Lol. We put a big blanket rolled up in front of it on the floor and then pushed the couch back in front of it to block the cold air, so it will do for now. We will have to do something better later but for now, it works.
when my kids were babies.. we put plexiglass over the flireplace to keep their little fingers out. taped it on the tile with clear tape and you really couldnt see it.. we left the plexiglass on for 2 years.. when the kids werent babies we took it off and immediately noticed the draft..
It was a cheap solution to childproof but I bet it saved some energy too.
I have a friend with the same problem and she put a board in front of it so it is snug against it. She painted it and made it look pretty. Also, I think she put some insulation or moulding behind it so the cold air doesn't come in between the cracks.
N.
Make sure the hood is closed. There should be a lever inside the top of the fireplace...Like inside. You need to make sure it is shut. The Apartment people will come check it for you.
You can also maybe set book case in front.
In one of our last places, before moving into our house, we ended up putting our Wall entertainment center in front of it....That way the boys could not get into and there was NO draft. Period:)
I would not physically put anything in the Fire place....The soot can still combustive and catch whatever is in there on fire. Placing something in front of it should be a bit safer i would think.
Yes, the damper is the first issue then check the seal around the the glass and the external parts for the front of the fireplace. You can put some insulation tape to seal those areas easily and can find it pretty cheap at Home Depot or Lowes. Hope it helps.
I looked in all the second hand stores until I found a brass and glass fireplace screen. When the glass doors are closed no wind blow in. If your fireplace has an opening to the basement or backyard where the ashes can be cleaned up easily this can cause an air current. Put a few bricks over it or a cast iron skillet.
I have a friend who has a piece of plywood cut to the size of the fireplace opening, and it is covered in a piece of carpet. There is also a handle screwed onto the front of the plywood so they can easily pull it out. The carpet wraps around the edges of the wood, so that when they push it in and out of the hole it doesn't scratch the fireplace or chip the wood, and it's soft for little heads, and looks nice too! :)
There should be a lever or handle up inside the fireplace opening to open/close the flue.
Make sure it is closed.
Putting something in front of the fireplace opening can help keep the heat inside.
Here's a magnetic fireplace cover that might work:
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Thanks
G.
