Capping Unused Chimney

Unused though they can waste a lot of heat up the chimney.

Capping unused chimney.

Single flue caps are the easiest to mount since they sit right on top of the flue. Put on heavy work gloves and use tin snips to cut a piece of sheet metal to the same measurements as the chimney opening. Usually unused chimneys are capped off with a bent sheet metal covering and perhaps a wire strap or weight on the top. Chimney c caps are a plastic terracotta cap with an bird insect guard that sits in side the cap.

These can simply be made out of a scrap or an offcut of lead beaten into the correct shape and bonded to the top of most chimney pots to effectively seal it and make it waterproof. There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. The key to capping the top of the chimney is to install a barrier that will be moisture and tamper resistant and will not be affected by environmental factors such as snow wind and sunlight. Even new cast iron dampers allow air loss.

Slowly lower the cap onto the flue and push it down as far as it will go. One is an inflatable balloon type product that will seal the flue. The bottom is even easier. Apply a bead of butyl rubber caulk around three sides of the chimney at.

The rain cannot get in but it is not sealed air tight which does allow any inside moisture to slowly get out. There are a few products you can purchase to block the chimney just above the damper. Align the open bottom of the cap with the top of your chimney flue. If you are only talking a few feet of redundant flue then you ll probably be ok with fully capping after reducing the height with a single vent left in the blocked up fireplace.