How to Block Off a Fireplace Flue

An unused fireplace is a source of drafts, and heat can drain from the room right up the chimney, causing your heating bill to rise. Blocking off the chimney flue is essential to maintaining energy efficiency in your home. If you use your fireplace infrequently, or not at all, consider blocking it to retain the 14 percent of air that leaks out of your house through the chimney.

Garbage bag
Fiberglass insulation
Twist tie

Instructions

- 1
  Close the damper. The damper will prevent some air from leaking out of your chimney.
- 2
  Fill a garbage bag with fiberglass insulation. Wear work gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when working with fiberglass insulation, as the fibers can come loose and irritate your skin.
- 3
  Tie the garbage top in a knot or use a twist tie to secure it.
- 4
  Stuff the filled garbage bag up into your fireplace until it holds and blocks the chimney. If it falls out, fill it some more. Alternatively, you can purchase an inflatable draft stopper at a hardware store and use this to block the flue. It's like a balloon for the inside of your chimney.

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