Cold Draft air near the gas fire place floor

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Mar 5th, 2018 1:08 pm

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Feb 22nd, 2018 7:03 pm

akilf1 [OP]: Newbie; Sep 16, 2014; 95 posts; 12 upvotes; Edmonton, AB

Feb 22nd, 2018 7:03 pm

Cold Draft air near the gas fire place floor

Hello All ,
Our home is 2011 build with a gas fireplace(vented gas fire place) and i observe there is cold air leaking from outside and the area around the fireplace to too cold.
I feel the air coming from outside and the floor is too cold near the fireplace. we are not using the fireplace .
Would this be the same for all others ? or is there an issue with my fireplace insulation ?

8 replies

Feb 22nd, 2018 10:04 pm

shabby: Deal Addict; Jul 2, 2001; 4556 posts; 1926 upvotes; GTA

Feb 22nd, 2018 10:04 pm

Is the pilot light on? It should be on to keep the inside of the fireplace warm during the winter.
Go outside and inspect the vent, there should be some kind of sealant around it.

Mar 3rd, 2018 7:19 pm

feels1: Newbie; Oct 28, 2011; 42 posts; 29 upvotes; Aurora, Ontario

Mar 3rd, 2018 7:19 pm

I have 2 different house which have gas fireplace, direct vent. One installed by home builder, one by previous owner. Both have cold air entering, and the bottom tray is very cold.

I checked the installation manual of it, and found that there is no baffle in the duct to prevent cold air from entering. The design was that the front glass panel is tightly seal using springs. I did try to open the glass, and examine the seal. It is really tight, so not the source of draft cold air.

By carefully study the design of the pivot light, burner, and I found that the burner is just hold by screws, and metal sheets for all those parts. There is no rubber, gasket, or seal around that area to prevent cold draft air from entering through the pivot light or burner area. I reached my hand and touch the bottom of the fireplace unit by removing the front bottom cover, and confirmed that it is very cold.

This year, I even keep the pilot fire/light on to see whether it makes any different. The answer is clearly that the heat it generates is far below the cold draft air it is leaking through. The top part of the glass panel is warm, but the entire floor around the firewall is very cold.

I will buy 1" thick foam the cover the entire fireplace

+1

Mar 4th, 2018 1:48 am

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 16511 posts; 18070 upvotes; Oakville

Mar 4th, 2018 1:48 am

feels1 wrote: ↑ I have 2 different house which have gas fireplace, direct vent. One installed by home builder, one by previous owner. Both have cold air entering, and the bottom tray is very cold.

I checked the installation manual of it, and found that there is no baffle in the duct to prevent cold air from entering. The design was that the front glass panel is tightly seal using springs. I did try to open the glass, and examine the seal. It is really tight, so not the source of draft cold air.

By carefully study the design of the pivot light, burner, and I found that the burner is just hold by screws, and metal sheets for all those parts. There is no rubber, gasket, or seal around that area to prevent cold draft air from entering through the pivot light or burner area. I reached my hand and touch the bottom of the fireplace unit by removing the front bottom cover, and confirmed that it is very cold.

This year, I even keep the pilot fire/light on to see whether it makes any different. The answer is clearly that the heat it generates is far below the cold draft air it is leaking through. The top part of the glass panel is warm, but the entire floor around the firewall is very cold.

I will buy 1" thick foam the cover the entire fireplace

Why not remove the fireplace if you never use it?

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Mar 4th, 2018 2:27 am

jackrabbit000: Deal Fanatic; Dec 28, 2007; 7957 posts; 4583 upvotes; Alberta

Mar 4th, 2018 2:27 am

We never use our gas fireplace. I closed the damper for the cold air intake and don’t have a problem with cold air coming into the house.

Mar 4th, 2018 3:00 am

Jerico: Deal Guru; Jan 25, 2007; 10219 posts; 5445 upvotes; Paris

Mar 4th, 2018 3:00 am

Gas fireplaces are leaky for cold air and rarely installed correctly to mitigate it as most are done by lazy builders.

Mar 4th, 2018 9:23 am

Shaidin: Sr. Member; Jan 7, 2013; 746 posts; 414 upvotes; Oshawa, Ontario

Mar 4th, 2018 9:23 am

With the pilot off, even if the fireplace is perfectly sealed, the firebox eventually becomes a cold metal box connected to the outside air by the vent, and you'll get a natural convection of inside air entering the top of fireplace enclosure, cooling down, and drifting out the bottom of the fireplace. (Ie: a reverse fireplace? Lol)

This creates a draft you feel. Keeping the pilot on helps to mitigate this.

You could also plug/cover the vent from the outside BUT MAKE SURE no one ever turns it on.

I found using foil tape to seal gas/ electrical penetrations and caulking between the enclosure and mantel helped to reduce these drafts.

My fireplace is in a "butt-out" from the house.

I've also seen magnetic, insulated fireplace covers online that you could look into. Easier to install/remove and prettier than foam.

Mar 4th, 2018 12:27 pm

georvu: Deal Fanatic; Feb 4, 2015; 6779 posts; 3076 upvotes; Canada, Eh!!

Mar 4th, 2018 12:27 pm

Hmmm... we never use our gas fireplace either... pilot light off.

One time we used the mantle around it got hot and just didn't seem to be right... I'll have to post pics in separate thread one day.

Ours is like 2/3rds of the way to back of house and has glass opening on both sides [one to living/dining room and one to family room]. Family room side blocked mostly with sofa but not on living/dining room side AND is colder in that room but sure the small vaulted ceiling at front does not help keep heat either so combo of things.

Op: The sealing ideas suggested above may be options to take... if do then turn off pilot light.

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Mar 5th, 2018 1:08 pm

woof: Deal Fanatic; Mar 21, 2002; 6437 posts; 1089 upvotes

Mar 5th, 2018 1:08 pm

I had an old fireplace, maybe 50 years old with significant cold draft problems in the winter. I never use it and last summer I had the gas turned off to it, I ripped it out and disposed of it and I removed the gas line going to it all the way back to the meter. I closed off vent openings and temporarily sealed them. This winter the drafts are gone. I'll eventually be installing an electric fireplace insert into the empty opening. It may not look as nice but it will be problem free.

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