How do i stop old brick fireplace backdraft without opening a window?

5 years ago

Our house was built in 1964 and has a thick brick fireplace. When we bought the house the fireplace had a wood stove in it that controlled the combustion and had a heat exchanger. I love open wood fireplaces and took out the stove as it was very high maintenance to operate. I then put a damper on top of the fireplace chimney that has a chain down through the chimney to open an close the damper. The chimney has no vent on the bottom outside so no internal venting. The brick goes down to the crawl space under the house. The problem is i have to turn off the central heat and crack a window to use the fireplace. Cracking the window defeats the purpose as it lets in cold air to the house.

How do i vent this fireplace permanently without bringing cold air in the house from a cracked window? I'm willing to drill through the brick, somehow.

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Comments (4)

calidesign
5 years ago
This isn't a DYI project. Get a good fireplace professional to look at your chimney, so they can make sure you're meeting local codes and everything is 100% safe.
HU-178658043
5 years ago
Most fireplaces of that vintage have no venting to provide combustion air. Starting with a smaller flame will help to get the draft going up the chimney instead of drawing the smoke into the living space.

That said, a core drill can be used to bore a 3" or so hole from the outside to the fire box to provide combustion air. I'd also get a fireplace professional to make sure it's done correctly, as well as to inspect the chimney for any existing issues.

JM$.02W
C S thanked HU-178658043
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Seabornman
5 years ago
Have you tried shutting the window after the fire has heated up? Your chimney is short and on an outside wall, both of which lead to a poor draw. Unless you've done major work to the exterior of your house, a 1964 house should be leaky enough to allow enough air in for a chimney to draw. You may want to see if a chimney specialist can put in an insulated liner.
C S thanked Seabornman
C S
Original Author
5 years ago
Hello Seabornman, we have done extensive work on the house and it is very air tight. thus the back-draft problem, i have tried starting the fire small and the brick enclosure is quite thick.