Steel Fireplace Night Guards

Easy to store in off season.

Good quality material.

A bit large.

We wanted to purchase this product to put against our fireplace at the cabin during the night. The screen is very cumbersome and difficult to move around due to its size and weight. The concept is great, it works, it just seems that for the price the manufacturer would have attached handles and some type of footing.

I will have mine in place all winter--no need to remove. I liked how easy it was to set between the screen and fireplace wall where it makes a good "seal" against the bricks. I did need to apply clear strapping tape down the back side along the hinge separations between the panels, since cold air was still leaking through those spaces. Sealing them is OK for me since I will not be folding it up for months, but regular and often folding them up to remove for fires might be a nuisance. I don't know yet how pliable my tape will be. I've recommended it to several friends and family. The two sizes available is also a plus.

close off fireplaces for summer

Use as night draft for fireplace works great
cuts down on a/c bill

On the whole we are really pleased to have this item. Functionally, it works well to reduce heat loss after we've enjoyed our open fireplace, and the fact that it folds is a big help. However, it is quite heavy and awkward to pick up, and to put in place. This is made worse when you're trying to place it between a firescreen and the fireplace so that the firescreen can hold it up, and when you remove it to close the damper once the fire has gone out. When unfolded it doesn't stand on its own, and leaning it against the fireplace creates air gaps, so something needs to hold it flat against the fireplace. Further development of this item might give it handles and/or feet (or better, both options) but they, too, must not interfere with its placement between a firescreen and laying flat against the fireplace.

We had bought the small fireplace guard from Plow and Hearth 15 or so years ago and it was great. Now different house, bigger fireplace, I ordered the large. When you open it up there are 1/4 inch gaps between the panels, original had no gaps. Original had an extra piece to slide across the top and hold it straight, this one does not. When I opened it up and stood it up one end panel bent under it's own weight immediately. Now that panel is bent, the thing won't fold flat. It was sturdy enough to stand up in front of the fireplace overnight. It should save us some heat loss up the chimney though not as much if it was the same quality as the original.

I have sought a product like this for many years and was happy to find it. Knowing that the fireplace is closed and not losing heat all night is very comforting. Although the screen is a bit heavy, screw holes in the end panels that are intended to facilitate production make it possible to add metal or porcelain knobs from the hardware store using 1/4 inch screws. These help when placing or removing the screen.

This is a must for anyone with a woodburning fireplace. It closes the fireplace opening so that no heat escapes from the house. In the past we did not want to make a fire because it would make the rest of the house cold. This prevents that from happening. It also gives peace of mind after we close the fire down. We can put it over the opening and go to bed.

We use this cover when our fire is dying down and we want to go to bed. we have an open wood burning fireplace with just a large screen cover. It gives us peace of mind that we don't have to wait up to shut the flue and worry about heat loss. we just slide the cover into place and put our screen in front of it.
It is a little heavy and awkward to move once you open it up for placement, and there are small spaces between the folds, but overall we are happy with this product. I do wish that there were small handles to help put it in place, maybe knobs or something, but I would recommend this product.