Hi ... I recently had a wood burning fireplace installed by a local dealer. I noticed that they did not cap the insulation shield located directly above the fireplace in the external chase I had built on the side of my two story house. The installer states it is not needed. The fireplace manufacturer states it is required to keep insulation, building materials and rodents out of the gap between the chimney (perfab 10") and the insulation shield. Chase is built but not finished. The questions ...
1) Is it important that the insulation shield be capped? I am concerned that when i reroof etc. that something could fall between the shield and chimney. Since it is in a chase, I would never see it.
2) Does the insulation shield stop drafts? It seems to me that without it, I have a larger path for cold air to drop down behind the fireplace than I would if the cap was in place.
3) Should I ask the installer to rip into the chase to install the cap? They will need to move a chimney support bracket as well, as it was installed directly above the insulation shield ... which is maybe why there is no cap.
Thanks for the help with this. I know nothing about fireplaces ... but am learning allot.
1) Is it important that the insulation shield be capped? I am concerned that when i reroof etc. that something could fall between the shield and chimney. Since it is in a chase, I would never see it.
2) Does the insulation shield stop drafts? It seems to me that without it, I have a larger path for cold air to drop down behind the fireplace than I would if the cap was in place.
3) Should I ask the installer to rip into the chase to install the cap? They will need to move a chimney support bracket as well, as it was installed directly above the insulation shield ... which is maybe why there is no cap.
Thanks for the help with this. I know nothing about fireplaces ... but am learning allot.