Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Fireplace vents
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04-17-01, 06:48 PM
We have just moved into a house (built in 1943) that has a fireplace in the living room. It appears that the previous owners had "some" work done professionally and did the rest on their own. They had a new firebox installed and the front of the fireplace was rebuilt. The mantle surround appears to have been their own handiwork which includes two vents on either side of the fireplace. These vents appear to lead to the area in between the new firebox and the old existing fireplace walls, although the vents do not look as though they were professionally done. We are looking to install a new mantle surround with a kit, but are unsure whether the vents on the sides can be covered up. Are these vents something that may be required by code? If so, can anyone recommend somewhere that we may find an appropriate mantle kit? (Most of the kits that we have found do not have an option for cutting 2 - 12" long vents in either side.)
Any suggestions are appreciated!
carrie2
Any suggestions are appreciated!
carrie2
Mike Swearingen
04-17-01, 07:50 PM
DO NOT BLOCK THESE VENTS until you are absolutely certain what they are (either heat or air vents).
If the firebox is metal (or maybe even firebrick), these vents are either forced air or convection (passive) heat vents to circulate heat around the interior firebox and a hidden exterior firebox.
If they are heat vents, blocking them will be a major fire hazard.
This is what they sound like, but being a homeowner job, they may possibly be air vents.
If they are air vents piped to under the house or outside to provide fireplace intake air in a tight room, and you are absolutely certain that they are just air vents, then it is o.k. to block them off.
However, if they are air vents, they are there for a purpose, and if your room is too airtight to allow the fireplace to draw properly, you may have to crack a window or door when burning the fireplace to compensate for the air drawn from the room up the chimney.
Good Luck!
Mike
If the firebox is metal (or maybe even firebrick), these vents are either forced air or convection (passive) heat vents to circulate heat around the interior firebox and a hidden exterior firebox.
If they are heat vents, blocking them will be a major fire hazard.
This is what they sound like, but being a homeowner job, they may possibly be air vents.
If they are air vents piped to under the house or outside to provide fireplace intake air in a tight room, and you are absolutely certain that they are just air vents, then it is o.k. to block them off.
However, if they are air vents, they are there for a purpose, and if your room is too airtight to allow the fireplace to draw properly, you may have to crack a window or door when burning the fireplace to compensate for the air drawn from the room up the chimney.
Good Luck!
Mike
04-18-01, 05:55 AM
Everything OldGuy has stated is right on the money. Your best bet when it comes to fireplaces is to hire a professional. Being a Certified Chimney Sweep I've seen to many things go wrong with "do it your selfers" when it comes to the proper workings of chimneys and fireplaces.
Visit http://www.csia.org to find a Certified Chimney Sweep in your area. Anyone you call, be sure to request a "Level 2" inspection which should answer all your questions.
Visit http://www.csia.org to find a Certified Chimney Sweep in your area. Anyone you call, be sure to request a "Level 2" inspection which should answer all your questions.