Should I clear snow and ice away from my fireplace's outside vent termination?
Yes — Flat Rock's historic homes, some dating to the 1800s, often had a sealed gas insert added into an oversized open masonry fireplace, and that insert vents up the old chimney chase. So here the thing to watch is the roof cap: ice dams and icicles over it will choke the fireplace. Keep it clear all winter.
Old chimneys, new inserts, one vent up top
When we seal a direct-vent insert into one of Flat Rock's original open fireplaces, which is the move that fixes the cold draft those big hearths pull while keeping the home's character, the venting usually runs up through the existing chimney and terminates at a cap on the roof. That cap is where winter trouble collects: an ice dam, a snow slab off the roofline, or icicles hanging over the opening.
A sealed insert needs its intake and exhaust clear to run. Block them and the unit trips its safety, leaving a drafty historic room cold on the night you most want it warm. The aging clay flue liners in these old chimneys are one more reason to have the top looked at.
Don't climb, and don't chip
A roof termination is not worth a ladder on an icy day. From the ground, look for buildup over the cap after a storm. If you can safely reach a lower termination, brush the snow gently once the unit is cool, but never chip at ice, which bends the cap and cracks the pipe.
We are 30 minutes south in Henderson County. If a Flat Rock cap is iced, or the aging flue and liner have you concerned, call (828) 545-0525 and we will inspect it rather than risk running a blocked vent.
Fireplace help in Flat Rock
We install and service fireplaces throughout Flat Rock and the rest of Henderson County — just 30 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
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