How do you open a chimney breast?

Break out a plasterboard sheet, using a club hammer, or use a padsaw or jigsaw to cut around the edge of a timber board. Unscrew or lever off any supporting battens. If the fireplace has been filled in with bricks, start from the vent and slowly knock out a few at a time with a club hammer and bolster chisel.

Can you open up a chimney breast?

If you have gone through the process of opening up your fireplace and just don't think it is worth it, you can go down the route of removing your chimney breast entirely. Some people choose to do this to create more space in their living room.

How do you open the chimney on a wood burning stove?

Orient yourself with the damper handle on the outside of your flue pipe or the exterior of your stove. Some handles push in and pull out, others turn clockwise or counter-clockwise, and some slide from side to side. Determine which position is open and which closes the damper for your particular stove.

Do you need permission to open up a fireplace?

As long as the building isn't listed you will not need planning permission to reopen the fireplace. However, if you are installing anything that has the potential to cause fire or toxic fumes it will need to comply with Building Regulations for combustion appliances.

Is it easy to open up a fireplace?

In some cases, opening up a fireplace could involve little more than prising off a sheet of old hardboard to reveal a hidden gem. But even if you don't find a long-forgotten marble masterpiece behind, there's still plenty you can do to create a captivating focal point.

Fireplace reconstruction

Does a bricked up fireplace need a vent?

Ventilation needs to be provided to the chimney space to avoid moisture collecting on the soot and smoke deposits within the chimney and forming damp areas, this can easily be achieved by building in an air-brick as the fireplace opening is bricked up.

How do I know if my chimney is open or closed?

Visually Check

If you have a throat damper, the closed damper immediately above your head will block your vision. You should be able to reach up and touch the closed damper. If you have a top-mount damper, check for daylight at the top of the flue. If you can't see daylight at the top, the damper is closed.

How do I know if my fireplace flue is open or closed?

Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney, it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don't feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.

Do all chimneys have a damper?

Do All Chimneys Have A Damper? Not all chimneys or flues have a damper. Open fireplaces can usually be found with damper located within the upper part of the firebox. It's common to find a damper as part of an open fireplace, but in some cases there may be no damper at all.

What are the 2 levers on my fireplace?

in your home are turned off when burning your fire. Also, some wood burning fireplaces have a lever to open or close the outside air vent to the fireplace. If your fireplace has this lever (usually located on the left inside panel) make sure the outside air vent is in the open (or up) position.

Do you pull or push to open the flue?

Some open the flue by rotating a knob in the anticlockwise or clockwise direction, while others require you to pull or push to open the flue. You can quickly tell whether you have an open or closed flue depending on the position of these controls.

What happens if flue is closed?

Close it when it's not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home.

Can I widen my fireplace?

If you want to enlarge your fireplace beyond the original opening, it's best to consult a specialist builder as it can be a big, complex job. Once you've reached the jambs and lintel, you're nearly done!

Is damper open or closed?

Conduct a visual check.

Lean in under your chimney just outside of your wood burning stove. You should find a metal device just within the chimney or flue opening. The damper is open if you can see through the damper up to your chimney. If you only see a metal plate, the damper is in a closed position.

Is a damper and flue the same thing?

A damper is located in the flue of your chimney. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.

How does a chimney flue work?

Chimneys operate on the principle that hot air rises above cold air. The movement of hot gases rising from the fire creates a pressure difference between the inside of the flue and the room. This is called a “draught” and it forces air into the fireplace, this air feeds the flames as it rushes past the fire.

How do you vent a chimney breast?

It is important that unused chimneys are vented at both the top and the bottom, to allow a constant flow of air. At the top, the best option is to fit a terracotta cowl or elevated cap to the chimney pot, which keeps the rain out but allows the air to enter.

How do you vent a disused chimney?

You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator. Flue ventilators can be found on our chimney pot page. The flue ventilator stops rain entry to the chimney but still allows a small amount of air passage for ventilation.

Should unused chimneys be capped?

Capping your chimney is a simple way to cover your chimney and protect the inside of your home from adverse weather, dirt, debris, pests, and more. Chimney caps are highly effective and can last for many years with minimal maintenance required.

Where is my fireplace lintel?

To find a fireplace lintel look at the top of the fireplace opening from below. A lintel should be located across the top of the fireplace opening between the outer wall of the fireplace and the base of the chimney.

What do you do when your fireplace is closed?