drafty open fireplace...

[hughesey]

hi, our fireplace is drafty, its an open fireplace with a gas real flame fire, when we look in and up the fireplace up towards the chimney we can see straight into the flu' (is that how u call it?) when its windy u can hear the wind whistling around the top of the chimney and sometimes walking past fire you can feel it around your legs...

how would i go about shutting this off when we're not using the fire?

 

[Bylough]

Hi, sounds like you need to have a metal flue (4") fitted all the way up.
But ask the experts.

 

[nstreet]

how would i go about shutting this off when we're not using the fire?

I don't think the regs will allow you to block it off temporarily as the need arose, as there would be a danger that you had 'closed' the flue and forgotten to open it. You wouldn't get a second chance.

You may be able to have a metal liner fitted, as suggested, with a cowl that will reduce the draught, but it could be costly depending upon the design of your property.

Thats the beauty of a gas fire, nearly all of the heat generated is lost, plus you get the added bonus of draughts just to make you curse the day you had it fitted.

 

[Nige F]

Had one of those flame fires once.......... bin it and have the ocasional real fire. betweentimes stuff a sack up the chimney.you`ll soon remember it when you light the coal