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I have a fireplace in the bedroom that isn't being used
The bedroom is bloody freezing so I'm thinking this might be partly why. I just cut a bit of plasterboard to fit up there for the time being.
I'm not sure how to insulate it properly, I've heard there may be damp problems if it's airtight
I'm in a stone end terrace, and it's on the shared wall, not the external one
I taped a TKMaxx bag over a fireplace in my lounge when I moved in 3yrs ago. It's still there and makes sucky noises when the wind blows hard which makes me think it's quite a good seal. There's probably a better solution. The sofa is up against it.
HTH
it'll need a trickle vent of some sort to allow air flow up the chimney unless it's capped at the top.
With some degree of scepticism last year, I bought a chimney balloon as you could definitely feel a draught from the living room fireplace in the winter time and my Wife was always moaning about the cold.
It seems to have made a huge difference to the warmth of that room.
We took it out a weekend or two ago to give the gas fire it's annual 'does it still work' test and the cold air coming down the chimney was instantly noticeable.
The balloon's shape means that there's always a slight gap at the corners so it doesn't seal completely, so shouldn't cause damp problems (fingers crossed!).
If there's a fireplace the house will be old and therefore not well insulated, because when houses had fireplaces coal was as cheap as chips. An efficent flue should actually be sucking air up by the venturi effect - check by burning something smokey in the grate. This will be helping to ventilate the house but sucking cold air in through windows etc.
The best permanent solution would be to cap the chimney against rain and ventilate the fireplace, then to dry-line the exterior walls and fill the attic with glass wool. A temporary solution would be to block the fireplace but you can expect condensation and damp, eventually.
big wad of balled up newspaper was what we used at my folks' place. Nover bothered where we are, because we have fires in the winter, and with the big, ill-fitting, single glazed sash windows, the chimney's among the least of our worries!
Loft insulation in a plastic bag, then stick a piece 32mm drainage pipe up one corner for ventilation.
A bin bag part-filled with scrunched-up newspaper, and pushed up the chimney worked for me. It doesn't fit right into the corners so allows some ventilation and has a decent depth. And as someone said, get the chimney pots replaced with those ventilated jobbies that keep the rain and jackdaws out.
Frogstomp posts a good solution. I've got a [url= http://www.chimneysheep.co.uk ]Chimney Sheep[/url] draught stopper and it works a treat.
slight tangent.
should an unused multifuel stove be left (eg over the summer) with its vents open to guard against damp?
@ soob: the instructions with mine say there's always a slight vent opening to avoid that problem.
(edit) that's with the two vents shut, there's a small opening in the lower one.