How to Prevent Night Time Fireplace Heat Loss

Open dampers in the bottom of the fireplace, if you have them, while using the fireplace at night; this small step immediately reduces heat loss. If there is no bottom damper, open a window near the fireplace about 1 inch and close any doors coming into the room that holds the fireplace.

Close the damper at night if you are not using the fireplace; you can place a cardboard or foam piece over the damper for additional air sealing as long as you pull it out before you make another fire. The closed damper and plug will keep air from being drawn out of the chimney at night.

Install glass doors on the front of the fireplace to cover the opening; make sure the doors are tight-fitting. Close them each night, keeping warmed air in the room and preventing it from escaping up the chimney.

Caulk around the hearth of the fireplace; small cracks around the home can equal a window being open full-time. Caulking will prevent heat loss as well as prevent cold air from entering the room via the fireplace.

Hire a professional to install an insert unit for the fireplace. The unit will control airflow, improving fireplace efficiency and regulating how hard and fast the fire burns. A small, quiet fan then blows heated air into the home. The additional benefit is that the room in which the fireplace sits uses less warmed air, which prevents heat loss at night.

Inspect the fireplace fuel damper seal. This should be as snug as possible; if it is not, either repair or replace the seal to keep heated air from escaping up the chimney at night.

Purchase metal grates that are of a tubular, C-shaped design. While the wood burns on the grate bottom, warmed air is drawn up the tubes and pushed out of the top, back into the room and away from the chimney.