To Silicon Seal or Not to Seal Faceplates

[builderbob]

Recent thread on FPX zc woodburning fireplace questioned silicon sealant used to seal faceplate edge to the rock/stone/masonry of the fireplace enclosure.

Got me thinking on any brand of zc woodburning fireplace----should one seal the edge of the faceplate to the enclosure masonry. Seems like one would want to stop any cold air infiltration from inside the enclosure to the house.

But seems like maybe one would NOT want to seal the faceplate, IF the faceplate will need to be removed to service or replace internal fireplace parts.

OR---would it be no big deal to simply pull off the faceplate along with any caulking at the edge. Then simple replace the faceplate when time comes, and simply recaulk the edge of it to the masonry. Hence, back to a tight fireplace enclosure with no coldair infiltration into the home.

I guess the thought of a faceplate edge "glued" (with silicon caulking) to the masonry made me think it might make the faceplate immoveable-----but maybe not?

BTB

 

[Corey]

My thought would be that if you have the proper liner and block off plates, there should be pretty minimal, if any cold air coming back down the flue. I would hesitate to use the silicone for the exact reason you mention - what if the unit needs to come out for service. Then you need to hack through your nice silicone to pull it out and are left with a hacked up bead on both your fireplace and surround.

FWIW - I have one block off plate at the top of my flue and one at the bottom, I don't even use the surround - tossed it in the recycle bin and hauled it off. (I guess it's time to update my avatar pic!)

Corey

 

[jtp10181]

cozy heat, he is talking about ZC units not inserts.

BTB, I don't see any point in doing that with a 7100 or Northstar, the faceplate is not a tight fit. If you siliconed the outer edge to prevent air infiltration that air would just travel behind the faceplate and leak in someplace else. If the house and chase are constructed properly cold air wont even make it that far anyway. The only reason to seal that up would be a really anal person that wants to make it look perfect. If I had to take that thing off and it had silicone all over I would be pissed, and I definitely would not put more back on when I was done.

 

[elkimmeg]

They make fiberglass insulation strips that fit behind the face plate and hearth opening

 

[builderbob]

They make fiberglass insulation strips that fit behind the face plate and hearth opening

Now that sounds like a good solution. Thanks. Is "they" one specific manufacturer, or just many insulation companies.

BTB

 

[BrotherBart]

They make fiberglass insulation strips that fit behind the face plate and hearth opening

Now that sounds like a good solution. Thanks. Is "they" one specific manufacturer, or just many insulation companies.

BTB

Every stove store has the stuff. It is used to seal the surround on fireplace inserts. Unless you live in Elk's town. :cheese:

 

[FPX Dude]

Regarding the sealing of enclosure (eg, I have marble sides) to the faceplace, I really didn't have any draft with or without the silicone seal, it was mostly cosmetic. Yes, I had it removed for safety issues, and it just wasn't the way the faceplate was to be installed. Now, as for the serviceability of the faceplace should I have kept the silicone or reapplied with a high-temp silicone, I didn't really consider that a hinderence. Let's say 3 years from now and I had to remove the faceplace for maint or some reason, I would have just taken a straight edge to it, scraped off the old stuff, done the work, then reinstalled and reapplied the little bead of silicone. Well, that was my thinking if I would have had to do it, as you may know, I just removed it anyway.

 

[seaken]

I don't think sealant around the face plate is a good idea. Each can do as they please but the sealant will not stop cold air infiltration through the face. The face plates on a ZCFP are punched out and used as louvers. If cold air infiltration is a problem then cold air will simply flow through the face louvers. In a ZCFP all the servicing is done through the face. The face should be easily removed and re-attached.

So, my vote is "Not".

Sean

 

[hfjeff]

I would not seal it with silicone either. My Regency came with fiberglass strips as Elk mentioned. However depending on how uneven your stones are, the insulation may be visible and then would not look good. But if the space is that large gobbing silicone in there would not look good either. My inlaws have a rough stone face on their firplace and the company that installed their insert didn't use anything to seal it. The heat comes out there as well.

 

[builderbob]

I don't think sealant around the face plate is a good idea. Each can do as they please but the sealant will not stop cold air infiltration through the face. The face plates on a ZCFP are punched out and used as louvers. If cold air infiltration is a problem then cold air will simply flow through the face louvers. In a ZCFP all the servicing is done through the face. The face should be easily removed and re-attached.

So, my vote is "Not".

Sean

Thank you, thank FPX Dude, and all the others for this discussion. Very Helpful for one to confidently eventually make the plunge.

BTB

 

[Daniel]

Has anyone every had a smoke detector go off without the presence of smoke? This is my first season burning with an insert and would appreciate any insights.

scenario:
1. Had a clean roaring fire burning (approx. 500 degrees) with the door closed.
2. blower on medium speed
3. could not smell or see smoke
4. very cautious wife could not smell or see smoke
5. smoke detector starting going off with a good battery
6. smoke detector is next to ceiling beam that could allow heat from stove blower to collect or gather behind the beam

This made me wonder if smoke detectors work off of extreme temperature changes rather then smoke.

Any thoughts?

dan

 

[Daniel]

Sorry about this post in this topic area. I thought I was posting it on the home page. Could someone please redirect previous post. Thanks

Dan