Expert: James Ball - 3/19/2011

Question
QUESTION: We have an open fire which we never use. However we are having cavity wall insulation installed and have been told that for health and safety reasons we must either have a vent put into the lounge wall or have the chimney sealed so that it cannot be used. Apparently if the fireplace were to be used for a fire and there was no vent the occupants would risk carbon monoxide poisoning. Can you comment, please? Is sealing the chimney and easy job and a desirable one or would a vent be a better option? Thanks in advance for your time.

ANSWER: Hello Linda, I am not sure what you have or what you really want to do?
sounds like you have a fireplace that you do not use and want to seal off permanently? and this insulation is that going inside the walls or chimney?
you might start with your local building department and I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep www.csia.org, (there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have, they should be able to help.
Hope this helps
James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Many thanks for your guidance and the speed of response. I shall contact a local sweep as suggested. The insulation is going in the walls. Would it be better to seal off the chimney permanently or would it be better to have a vent placed in the wall? We are never likely to use the open fire again as we have a large plasma TV on the chimney breast. However, if we were to sell the property maybe to have permanently sealed it would be a bad idea?

Answer
Welcome back Linda, I am not a big fan of closing off a chimney, they make a top mount damper that will close off the top and you can just look at the fireplace and not use it, but if you want to, have to or re sale you just pull a chain to open and close and your back in business (provided the fireplace is safe to use)
good luck
James