Chimney & Fireplace

Why do I have an airbrick at teh top of my chimney

Anonymous user 15/03/2024 - 2.32 PM

Looking at my chimney (it's in use throughout the colder months, so not capped), I have the chimney pot at the top. Further on down, where teh stack starts properly I also have an air brick. This is starting to become a problem as I have a hive of Honey Bees living in the air brick (or the void behind it). On some days I can get 4 or 5 bees coming out of the fireplace and buzzing round the room. On other days none. I have tried to smoke the bees out, but it made little difference to their activity, so I am wondering if the bees are actually not in the chimney, but some other void up there, and its just the unlucky ones that end up coming down the chimney, or is the air brick there for soem other purpose? (It is clean, so I don't think that smoke ever comes out of it.) I am just trying to make sure I won't give us all CO poisoning if I light a fire come the autumn!