Should I seal around the fireplace screen?

[spshaffer]

Morning All,

I just installed a new fireplace screen / door surround.

Eventhough the unit came with some of the fiberglass batting, it is not sitting flush against the fireplace because of the unevenness of the bricks. And although not huge, there are some air gaps around the edges.

I was thinking I'd seal around the edges with a high heat mortar...

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Steve

[Oscar_Lives]

I have thoughts.

[No]

[Bob]

And be aware that any of the front of your fireplace which is not covered, but instead is open to the airspace inside of the fireplace, will turn black from the smoke inside. If you make sure that the fiberglass covers everything visible from the front before installation, the fireplace will continue to look good after your remove the screen sometime in the future.

Bob

[George E. Cawthon]

Don't do that, it isn't necessary and it will look like hell. Add a bit more fiberglass insulation to the screen where it contacts the bricks. You don't need, and probably don't want, a real tight installation. Anyway there are plenty of leaks where the glass opens and the shutter slide is. All you want to do is just slow down most of the air movement. When the fire burns out, you should be closing the damper in the chimney, so there will be very little air movement up the chimney anyway.

[CDET 14]

You don't want to seal off the front of the firebox opening because the chimney needs "make-up air" to replace what goes up the flue. The chimey system draws that air from the room and if the front of the firebox is sealed, the chimney system will not function properly. Alisa LeSueur former Certified Chimney Sweep