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The first, and perhaps easiest, way to close off a fireplace is with the damper. “If you have a bottom/standard masonry damper you can close it and seal it closed with silicone to stop the airflow,” says Blaken. The damper itself goes a long way toward closing off the fireplace, which is why every wood-burning fireplace needs one. It also prevents rain and animals from coming into your home. With a little silicone, you can make it more airtight. If you change your mind, just remove the silicone.

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A chimney cap damper seals a fireplace from the top. This style of damper is very secure; some even come with a rubber seal. “If you have a top closing cap damper, they are more efficient than bottom closing dampers,” explains Blaken. “Those would be the easiest, most temporary solutions.”