It seems that the gas insert s enclosure bottom must sit off of the bottom of the fireplace opening by about an inch.
Cold air coming in through gas fireplace.
If the wall behind the fireplace is uninsulated which is common the problem will be worse.
Step one is stopping the cold air draft.
When you close the flue you re essentially plugging the chimney with a metal flap.
These units usually don t have a damper on the combustion air that you can close.
You will stop the cold drafty air in the winter and keep warm humid air from coming in during the summer months.
Use our flue coverto stop the outside air from coming in through the flue.
Ways to prevent cold air entering your home through your fireplace.
We recently bought a 1996 house which has a majestic gas fireplace.
The air comes in through the large unsealed hole that is left from the pipe going through.
When a fireplace isn t in use cold air from outside can come down the chimney into the home and warm interior air can escape up through the flue.
Keeping your home warmer in the winter can involve a couple steps.
Install or replace the damper a damper is a metal flap in your chimney that blocks cold air from coming in and warm air from escaping.
Putting a bag or plastic over the box outside does nothing.
What is a bit unusual in your case is that these vents usually don t pull cold air into the house without a fire present.
I m guessing that that along with a void between the back of the insert and the flue is allowing cold air to come down the chimney past the back of the insert and underneath the insert and out into my family room.
Use our magnetic fireplace vent coverto stop the inner cold air circulation from the vents.
Also you may discover that the knockout for the gas line is letting cold air come in.
This combustion air is necessary because new houses are so air tight there can be a lack of adequate combustion air.