Should You Seal off an Unused Chimney?

An unused chimney could be causing heat to leak out of your home through an up draft. On top of this, an open flue liner could also be letting water and critters enter your home. The last thing you need is a bird to get stuck in your unused fireplace or old oil furnace. The question soon arises then, should you cap off your chimney flue if you’re not going to use it?

To Demolish or not to Demolish?

Chimneys that go unused are often neglected for maintenance leading to brick damage, and water penetration into your home. Some homeowners opt for the demolition of the chimney down to the roofline, however this can greatly reduce the value of your home and it loses the aesthetic appeal of a well built chimney. The best alternative is to have your chimney rebuilt by a qualified mason and capped with a custom metal cap sealing of the flues from exposure. This prevents any major updraft or water exposure while making it easy to reverse to make your chimney functional again.

Insurance Benefits

Some home insurers will reduce your annual premium if you are able to send them pictures and prove that your flue liners are completely sealed. This is because you are proving that there are no wood burning fires taking place in your home which reduces the risk taken on by the home insurer.

Best Procedure for Sealing your Unused Flue

The best process for sealing your flue should be the simplest, most effective and easiest to reverse in the event you decide you want to use it. At Kavanagh Masonry, we will ensure the last flue liners rest 150mm below the top of the chimney and then completely seal off the top of your chimney with a custom metal chimney cap made of 20 gauge enamelled steel. Our expert team will send you photos of the sealed cap for you to forward on to your insurance provider for a possible reduction in premium payments.

If you decide to use the chimney flue, all that is needed is to remove the metal cap and install the final flue 50-100mm above the last brick on the chimney in accordance with local building codes.

For more information on our chimney demolition, chimney rebuilds or custom metal chimney cap services, we encourage you to give us a call at 613-859-5090 or submit a form to us on our Request a Quote Page.