Thread: Outside air intake for fireplace in now inside home

This prefab fire place has what appears to be two outside air intakes. One on each side of wood chimney chase. Area outside left side of chimney chase has a few years back been converted to an enclosed porch used as a study. That air intake is now inside the building envelope. ID tag for fireplace is unreadable.. Can and should the newly re-purposed air intake be sealed off to prevent possible CO entry into home.

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What do you think and why ? Socratic method.

What type of " prefab fire place " is it ?

If one or both are cooling air intakes for a Chimney Air kit, you could overheat the fireplace. You need to know. As far as sealing them off, there should be a control lever inside the fireplace. Just close it.

Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells

What type of " prefab fire place " is it ?

Garry,

Sorry for late response. It's crazy busy here. I cannot read the ID tag. Not sure what brand. My concern was if there was a negative draft condition in the house would that draw in CO from the air intake.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by Bob Harper

If one or both are cooling air intakes for a Chimney Air kit, you could overheat the fireplace. You need to know. As far as sealing them off, there should be a control lever inside the fireplace. Just close it.

Thanks Bob. Will pass on your info to clients.

Eric,
Type not actual manufacture ID. Assuming that it is a gas fired insert and it is sealed system.
The exterior intake air was probably to increase the efficiency of the unit by not drawing combustion air from the interior already heated air. So the intake air is now coming from the interior preheated air making it less efficient.

So if gas and vented the hot air rises and intake air is supplied to bottom of fire chamber. Chance of back draft is minimal. If your concern is a result of a standing pilot and a build up of CO, still not a major concern.

Hi, ALL &

If that was indeed a former outside fresh air-intake and is no longer outside, it now needs to be ducted to the new exterior = case closed...


Cheers !

Originally Posted by Glenn Duxbury

Hi, ALL &

If that was indeed a former outside fresh air-intake and is no longer outside, it now needs to be ducted to the new exterior = case closed...


Cheers !

Since we do not know to what, how and why the intake was installed; we can't make a "case closed" assertion can we ? I think you are taking a leap of faith that it was required for the installation and not just an option of installation.