My fireplace doesn't just suck, it blows

[cyndezu]

cold air through the room.
I just bought this home and I realize the reason I and my doggies maybe freezing our butts off is the cold draft blowing from the top louvers and settling down to the floor.
I was thinking of asking the fireplace store on 91 and Garnet to look at it.
Any idea's?

[sgrizzle]

Are you currently running the fireplace?

If not, have you closed the flue?

[cannon_fodder]

less likely, but also check to see if it is vented fireplace.  My fireplace has a side vent (so it doesn't draft when lit from the house), if I left this open AND the flu it would draft really bad constantly.  Usually a small lever off to the side (mine is inside the fireplace).  

Really it is kind of obvious because there is a jacket around the fireplace and a vent on the outside of your house.

[cyndezu]

dang is that what that knob is for?
Yes the flue is closed.
I don't see any other place's to close it.
I know its a zero clearance insert.
I'm concerned who ever put this pos in may have done so incorrectly.
I intend to convert this to vent free anyway cause it has sucked up a ric of pecan and doesn't heat worth a diddley.

[batticdoor]

You can weatherstrip your fireplace with a fireplace plug.

Link to a good video: http://home.comcast.net/~fireplaceplug/Fireplace_Plug_Video-2.wmv

visit www.batticdoor.com for more info

[cyndezu]

quote:  You can weatherstrip your fireplace with a fireplace plug.

[V][]

[TheArtist]

I hadnt used my fireplace since early fall. I assumed I had closed it afterwards. The new kitten has been mewing at it constantly I was wondering why and took a look and the flue was open. The den has been a lot warmer these last few days and the kitty quieter since I closed the flue lol.  Wish I had gotten the kitten earlier might have saved me a penny or two even above litter and food costs. []

[cyndezu]

always such pearls of wisdom A.
and I have none.

My flue is securely closed in fact surprisingly draft free. It's the louver's on top.
I have been researching and this is some kind of pre-fab notorious for being drafty.
Never had one before but, I see so many homes being built like this I thought the engineering must be pretty good to make them this way.
WRONG!
Spend the bucks, get A real brick and mortar fireplace.
Grr

[RecycleMichael]

A flea and a fly flew into a flue.
Said the flea, "Let us fly",
Said the fly, Let us flee",
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

[TheArtist]

Don't you have ANYTHING to do? []

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by cyndezu

cold air through the room.
I just bought this home and I realize the reason I and my doggies maybe freezing our butts off is the cold draft blowing from the top louvers and settling down to the floor.
I was thinking of asking the fireplace store on 91 and Garnet to look at it.
Any idea's?

Make sure your flue damper provides a tight seal when closed.  Make sure the ash dump door (if so equiped) also has a tight seal.  If you have sealed glass doors covering the interior opening into the room, use them.  If you are lucky to have a fireplace built with a dedicated outside combustion air source, make sure the interior inlet is sealed.

In my 30+ years of living in homes in Tulsa with a woodburning fireplace, I find that most are great for atmosphere only, and provide little useful household heat.  I have been in my current home for 21 years, and I will only use my fireplace for ambiance only, when the outside temp. is above 50 degrees.  A fireplace needs inside air for wood combustion, and will suck cold outside air from every crack, crevice, and cranny into your house from rooms far away from the actual fire.  You may be warm sitting in front of the fire, but the rooms away from the fire will be even colder because of it.