How to Combat Cold Drafts Coming From Your Fireplace

Your fireplace is supposed to warm your home, not cool it. If you’re preparing your nightly fire, and you feel cold air coming from within the fireplace and into your home, that means your chimney is drafting backwards. 

This backwards draft is due to physics. Hot air rises, and cold air sinks. The best way to combat this? Preheat the flue!

How to preheat the flue

Use an electric space heater

If you own an electric space heater, and you don’t have a gas-starter pipe in your fireplace, your easiest option will be to turn on the space heater near the opening of the fireplace, and to let it run for approximately 10-15 minutes. The length of time you will need to run the heater will depend on the size and material of the flue, the temperature outside, and the wattage of your space heater. 

The goal is to heat the flue to a warmer temperature than the air outside. If the air outside is frigid, and your flue is quite tall, then the space heater may need to run for up to 45 minutes, or possibly longer.

Light your fireplace’s gas-starter pipe on low for a 5-10 minutes

If your fireplace is lit using a gas-starter pipe, light it on low for a few minutes to begin to heat the flue. This process will be faster than an electric space heater, as the gas-starter pipe creates a real flame that puts direct heat on the flue and pushes warm air upwards. 

The goal is to heat the flue to a warmer temperature than it is outside, so depending on the temperature, material, and size of your flue, preheating times may vary.

Consistent drafts could indicate a problem with your chimney!

A backdraft in your fireplace can mean there are potential problems with your chimney, or that there are other factors affecting your chimney’s airflow. Usually, backdrafts are caused by a cold chimney flue. However, persistent backdrafts can mean that there is a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

Having your chimney inspected yearly can prevent these problems. Give the team at Ye Olde Chimney Sweepe a call to schedule yours today! (501) 327-0618