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Converting wood burning chimney into non-vented use

amyersny's picture

Converting wood burning chimney into non-vented use (post #205490)

amyersny on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 15:05
in

I'm working on a 1960 brick ranch home that has an original wood burning fireplace.  I have decided that since the steel insert flue has rusted and been removed from directly above the firebox, perhaps to keep the birds out and the heat/AC from escaping, I should just close the chimney and add a galvanized cap to cover the 2'X5' chimney top.

I purchased new gas logs that do not need to be vented and they have been installed to a new gas line run by a plumber.  To keep the heat from escaping from the constantly open chimney, should I add a special heat/fire resistant insulation inside the top of the chimney and permanently cap?  I welcome your comments/suggestions.

-A +A

gas logs that do not need venting? (post #205490, reply #1 of 3)

by calvin in reply to amyersny [original] on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 15:54

Explain please.

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Is the chimney internal or (post #205490, reply #2 of 3)

by DanH in reply to amyersny [original] on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 16:24

Is the chimney internal or external?  If internal I'd probably stuff some fiberglass in from the top -- tightly pack it for 18" or so, then cover with a metal cap.  For an external chimney, probably something similar, only stuff the insulation up from the bottom.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

If this is a vent free (post #205490, reply #3 of 3)

by rich1 in reply to amyersny [original] on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 16:40

If this is a vent free fireplace, your lungs are now the chimney, and the current installation is wrong.

If this a gas log set, you NEED a chimney.