Those pesky fireplaces

Ok anyone else having a problem with their gas fireplace letting in massive amounts of cold air? The only solution I have found is to actually turn the thing on (which with these gas prices is expensive). I have not found any way to block off the vent opening. I do understand that the gas would need to be off to do this but I would rather turn the thing off then have the cold air come into the house.

 

We found that they hadn't caulked around our fireplace so we ended up doing it ourselves (black caulk can be found at Home Depot). Good ole VM.

 

I have tried to use good stuff on some of the larger opennings, though I think that to do a real good job I would have to either pull the fireplace out and insulate or cut into the walls around it.

YUCKO!

Gregg

 

there was actually an opening somewhere in the bottom of ours when we first moved in. i caught it before the 1 year and made VM fix it, so I don't remember exactly what it was; but those zero clearance fireplaces are supposed to be insulated, and I think they had left off the insulation around the bottom of the box -- so there was 24 degree air next to metal, and cold air blowing in my family room! There are magnetic vent covers you can get that will seal it off until you get it fixed, but you need to put out the pilot light first.