If you’re like most people, your utility bills in the winter months may come as a bit of a shock. After paying a certain amount most of the year, you’re suddenly shelling out hundreds of extra dollars just to keep your home warm and toasty.
While good windows and a functioning furnace are obviously part of the equation, proper chimney insulation can go a long way toward keeping your costs low all year.
Here are some useful drafty fireplace solutions to rein in your utility bills and keep your home at a reasonable temperature for the remainder of winter.
Is your chimney keeping your home cold?
One of the most common problems homeowners face during the colder months is the struggle to keep their house warm. Many homeowners will spend hundreds of dollars caulking their windows and coming up with other quick fixes to keep cold air out, but few think to check the insulation in their chimney.
Unfortunately, chimneys continue to serve as a pathway for air, even when there is no fire burning in the firebox. Since heat tends to rise, warm air from within your home can filter up and out of an improperly insulated chimney. When this hot air escapes, the cold drafts from outside come rushing into your home at an equal rate, drastically lowering the temperature throughout the home. That’s a lot of wasted heat that’s costing you hard-earned cash!
Solve Air Leakage With These Drafty Fireplace Solutions
There are a number of ways you can eliminate these annoying cold drafts and keep warm air in your home.
1) Fix Your Damper
One of the primary causes of drafty chimneys is a faulty fireplace damper. While this flap normally seals your flue while it is not in use, repeated use can cause it to warp and bend over time,. resulting in this flap no longer sealing properly. A poor seal allows pesky cold air to make its way into your house. Regular inspection can prevent this vital component from suffering wear and tear.
2) Invest in Magnetic Vent Covers
Many fireplaces have air vents floating above or below the firebox to help vent heat outward when a fire is burning. Unfortunately, these vents can also let cold air in while not in use. To remedy this issue, invest in a set of magnetic vent covers and place them over these vents when your fireplace is dormant.
3) Build a Fireplace Cover
Cut air off at the doors by building a fireplace cover. As the name implies, these covers can be placed in front of your fireplace while the firebox is not in use to prevent cold air from seeping in.
Keep Your Chimney and Fireplace In Shape
Clean Sweep Chimney Service has been providing drafty fireplace solutions to the St. Louis area since 1980. We have been cleaning and repairing chimneys for longer than any company in the state of Missouri! We offer a variety of cleaning and repair services that can keep your home warm and comfortable. Some of the many services offered include flue cleaning, chimney cover installation, lining system installation, and chimney crown repair.
If you suspect your chimney could be the cause of your house’s drafts, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! For more information, visit our website by clicking here.
