Installing glass or metal doors on the fireplace hearth can create an airtight seal too for when the fireplace is not in use. But this could be quite costly. A less expensive solution (although perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing) is a inflatable flue blocker.
You could just board it up with plasterboard/plywood - either above the fireplace itself, or in front of the fireplace to block the whole area off. Decorate as desired.
By temporarily blocking up a fireplace, however, you can retain it as a decorative feature, increase the thermal efficiency of your home and begin using your fireplace again in the future, if you want to.
In most cases, the easy answer is just to cover the opening up. You can have the opening permanently blocked off with painted brick (for example) and then have that chimney capped. Or, temporarily put in an electric insert or something safe.
You can either shove fiberglass insulation into the fireplace from the bottom, or spray foam from the top. If you use spray foam, get large gap foam, and put a ball or layer of chicken wire as a cradle to support the foam while it sets.
Is Venting an Unused Chimney Important? Even when you have retired your masonry fireplace from use, yes, venting an unused chimney is important. It is vital to allow for continued airflow, and that's not the only issue.
"The estimated cost to remove a decorative fireplace and prepare the wall for mounting a TV, can range from a minimum of £350 to £700 for a basic removal with minimal wall repairs to a maximum of £3,500 to £7,000 or more for a more complex project, which may involve structural modifications, high-end wall finishes, ...
Close Off Fireplaces with a Throat Damper
“If you have a bottom/standard masonry damper you can close it and seal it closed with silicone to stop the airflow,” says Blaken. The damper itself goes a long way toward closing off the fireplace, which is why every wood-burning fireplace needs one.
The cost of capping off an unused chimney depends on the size and type of the chimney. The most common type is a masonry chimney, which ranges in price from $500 to $1,200. If you have a metal chimney, the cost will be about $200 to $400.
If you have an unused chimney in your home, it's important to consider capping it off to prevent heat loss and moisture build-up. Not only can these issues be costly to fix down the line, but they can also pose safety concerns.
Whether it's a permanent seal or a temporary plug between uses, covering your fireplace helps keep warm air in and cold air out during the colder months. A closed fireplace does the reverse during the summer, so your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard.
Chimney capping is one of the ways you can deal with the challenges of an unused chimney. You can block the top of your chimney using a flue ventilator or chimney cap with mesh, leaving space for chimney ventilation.
While drywall is fire resistant and used in fire-rated wall and floor/ceiling assemblies, it is not rated for use in fireplace insert surrounds. Radiant heat from pellet or gas inserts dries the cover paper, which is combustible and can pose a fire hazard.
Taking out a fireplace doesn't just mean knocking out a few bricks and boarding it up. Blocking up a fireplace can add extra space to a room and even improve the heat efficiency of your home. This is because the fireplace is an easy area for heat to escape.
Even when your fireplace isn't in use, it may cost you. Leaks in the fireplace door (if present), vents and fans, and the chimney can allow heated air to escape in the winter and let hot air into your home during the summer months. That's where insulating your fireplace pays off!
The average cost to remove a wood-burning fireplace or stove is $500 to $1,000, for demolition labor, debris disposal, chimney capping, and patching the walls, ceiling, and roof. Extra costs may apply for removing or covering the ventilation system.
Sleek yet simple materials like burnished metal are versatile enough to work in almost any space. Open screen designs are meant to serve as a barrier between a roaring fire and the rest of the room. If you want to conceal your fireplace completely, opt for a screen with a solid structure.
Unused chimneys not only waste a lot of heat, they also pose a potential damp problem as well as being a cause of smoking fireplaces and stoves. You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator. Flue ventilators can be found on our chimney pot page.
Hearth covers are designed to seal off the fireplace opening when the fire is not in use. They're available in a variety of styles and materials, making it easy to find one that matches your fireplace and room décor. A magnetic hearth cover uses magnets to attach to the fireplace opening, providing a secure seal.
To block a fireplace up, you can use a piece of plasterboard as an alternative to bricks. The plasterboard will need to be cut correctly so that it fits tightly into the space.
On average, a chimney replacement costs between $3,100 and $15,400. Can you remove a fireplace and keep the chimney? In many cases, yes, you can remove a fireplace while keeping the chimney.
The simple answer is yes. A blocked-up, unused chimney breast should be vented at both the top and the bottom.
Choosing the Right Block for Your Fireplace
Concrete blocks are superior in handling heat, crucial for fireplace safety. If you need a robust and long-lasting fireplace, concrete blocks are the way to go. Cinder blocks provide better insulation, helping keep rooms warmer with less fuel consumption.
The average chimney cap replacement cost is $300, though it can range between $15 and $1,000. A functional chimney cap protects the inside of your chimney and home from wildlife intrusion, debris, and water entering your chimney and fireplace.