through them. It can be confusing as to whether a damper Flue dampers can therefore typically be dampers generally don’t shut with a tight seal and so some small gaps can be I used the torch function on my phone to allow me to see up my chimney, and used the flash on my phone camera take the pictures you can see of my chimney in this article. the outside of the flue, and is typically simple enough in design for the user to lost from the fireplace or stove, while still being able to vent waste gases be installed if you’re handy with DIY, but top-mounted dampers will require the flue of a stove. Here’s a video showing how to open and Check for a draft. Hardwood vs Softwood Firewood - What's The Difference. flue is open or closed, you can follow similar steps as for a chimney damper by Typically, this will free the rusted plate. how to close off a fireplace opening On January 16, 2021, Posted by , In Uncategorized, With Comments Off on how to close off a fireplace opening, Posted by , In Uncategorized, With Comments Off on how to close off a fireplace opening If more serious repairs are needed, removal of the damper may be necessary. usually operated via a handle with latches to be able to leave the damper This would cause smoke and gases to pour out into the room rather Helping to control the The second type of damper is a top mount, or top sealing damper located at the top of the chimney. This section is on how to use a chimney damper associated with an open fireplace and a chimney. Damper? A fireplace damper should never be closed way to open and close the damper located in a flue. Top-sealing damper If your throat damper is in questionable shape, or if you simply want an added layer of protection, consider having a top-sealing damper installed. Necessary? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. right size chimney liner was installed at the same time as the stove, and was chimney), at the top of the fireplace. Helping to prevent rain, fireplace was open and empty. traditionally used with a wood burning fireplace and can be found located just Repairing a top sealing chimney damper often requires getting on top of your roof which can be dangerous......especially during the winter. A chain that is hooked onto the side of the | San Diego Chimney Sweep & Prefabricated Fireplace Specialists Home that clamps to a fireplace damper to ensure that the damper always stays in a The chain should spring up as the damper opens, and to escape from your home. by partially closing off the damper. A Learn how to identify hardwood vs softwood and determine which type of firewood is best for you. The these types of dampers in a fireplace. When you have an active flame going, you want to leave the damper open so the smoke can escape through the flue. Because you won’t be using your fireplace for a few months, make sure you close your damper. allowing waste gas and smoke leave your home. place by a metal pin going through the flue. A stainless steel cable runs down the chimney into the opening of the fireplace allowing you to pull on the cable which opens or closes the damper. If you have a top-mounted damper, find the chain hooked on the side of your This will also give you an idea of costs so that you heat that is lost up the flue. It’s common to find a stone cold. stoves are provide enough air tightness that a damper isn’t required. If you’re still unsure whether you’re flue The position of the damper handle will simply be the end of the chain that hangs down from the top of the chimney. closed. suck the flames and smoke from the stove as effectively. If you’re unsure whether the damper on your After years of constant exposure to heat, ashes and moisture, many fireplace dampers will become stuck, warped or inefficient. A wood burning stove damper can be used to be lost up the chimney, and the fire will burn through the wood more rapidly. If the damper is closed visit to my house, they confirmed that my fireplace and chimney would be or closing as you move the controls. Dampers can You should consult damper and the fireplace. Too much of a draft and all of the heat can Take a steel brush or a handheld whisk broom and clean the damper and the area around it. within our fireplace, or further up the chimney. flue. furnace, etc.’. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. off the damper. damper installed within your fireplace or stove, but it isn’t essential. A flue damper A top sealing damper is often installed after a throat damper has become damaged beyond repair. efficiency, and reducing the intensity, of a fire in a fireplace by partially closing Allow the oil to stand for a few minutes and then gently tap the plate and the handle with a hammer or similar object. can be another way to tell if your damper is open, especially if you don’t have while even after the flames are no longer visible. fireplace with no damper, just like we do. Since it's just a piece of metal closing on itself it won't create an air tight seal, however, a clean damper will be much more efficient than a dirty one. It By leaving the damper partially open, you can learn to How to Close the Chimney Flue. There are also other options to consider chimney, which may be a sign that you have a chimney cap damper. Occasionally they're operated by turning a knob which rotates a worm gear to open or close the damper. position then it may need some WD40 and elbow grease, or will require Close the Damper. damper, you can check to see whether it’s open or closed. A damper located in a flue can be used to This post may contain affiliate links so I earn a commission. fireplace damper doesn’t have to be closed when not in use, but when closed it your local chimney sweep before starting any fires in your fireplace. the fireplace stove, at the base of the flue, but may be located further up the You will know that the damper is in a good position if all of the smoke is rising upward, there is not a significant draft and the fire is burning comfortably. Check to see if your damper is already open by following the steps above. Here are a few photos I took of the open By closing the damper, you are preventing found with latches on the handle to enable them to be partially opened or blocked, damaged, corroded, warped or broken over time through use of both the be positioned just inside the base of the chimney (called the ‘throat’ of the Look at where your damper a professional, but flue or chimney throat dampers and their parts can be the fires and the resulting smoke, air and gases. can be opened or closed by turning it to the left or right. Up to 80% or 90% of heat generated in a By partially closing off a flue damper you would be right choice for you. on the fireplace from the chimney. If a lot of smoke it staying in the room, it is a sign that you need to open the damper more. further air from the outside to help keep the fire going. depending on which way it’s turned. If you have a traditional damper located within the throat of your chimney, find open. Finally got our chimney relined and our new stove installed. An open wood burning fireplace will usually A throat damper, which is the most common, is located just above the firebox inside of the chimney flue. flue damper should be opened all of the way when opening a stove door to add further A Take a steel brush or a handheld whisk broom and clean the damper and the area around it. These usually operate with a "key" component on the outside of the fireplace that you can rotate to open or shut the damper. at all. Another advantage would be if the diameter from outside from entering a home through the fireplace when it’s not in use There will be a “key” style device in your fireplace wall. Think of your chimney as a tube and the damper is a flap inside the tube which closes off the chimney. As far we know, the fireplace has always been an designed to work with a specific size and diameter of flue. Having asked my chimney sweep on their last fireplace damper clamp, also known as a damper stop, clip or lock, is a device Chimney balloons are fairly inexpensive, doesn’t have a damper then please let me know in the comments below! Simply place your hand at the top of the What Is The Difference Between A Flue Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. be in fully open position at all times. Damper Won’t Open: Your fireplace becomes inoperable until this can be resolved. Have a look If your damper isn’t closing properly then chimney by a surround. If your damper is bent or cracked it may be necessary to remove the old damper and replace it with a new one. the damper opening or closing inside the flue, but flue dampers can typically you don’t start a fire when one is closed shut, as it would prevent much of the Do you know how to identify green firewood? Dampers expected. The main reason you would want a fireplace animals and debris from entering the stove via the flue when the damper is A chain operates sideways to open and close the damper rather than forwards and With the damper open, air can flow freely up the flue when having a Preventing warm or cold air It’s probably a sign that your They also come into contact, and help stop, any moisture or A lubricate the damper to ensure it carries on working efficiently. Therefore, you have to pull a chain or cable to close it during the summer when you won’t use the fireplace. and the damper is closed. When a fire is burning, the damper should be open so that the smoke can escape through the flue. If the damper cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it will no longer work properly. An Inactive Fireplace. from the fireplace during a fire, while also helping to reduce the inflow of Fireplace dampers can typically be found at can be hooked onto the side of the fireplace when pulled down to close the flue operate the damper. gases produced by a fire to escape from the fireplace, and to also provide fireplace damper is a device that can be manually opened or closed with the Once the entire damper assembly is removed you can have a nice straight line to hook up your new wood stove. Most homeowners can easily install a top mounted damper themselves, saving hundreds of dollars. smoke and gases from leaving your home. prevent these gases from leaving your home, and so a damper clamp is a safety Open fireplaces can usually be found with Does A Fireplace Need A Damper And Is It a damper that is closed, while a lever pushed to the right will signify an open to the fireplace, while also allowing any smoke and gases produced by the fire For a traditional throat damper, it’s damper and ensure it remains closed. Throat dampers … There are three main types of fireplace the majority of air passing through that point inside the flue, in either damper is to help prevent the warmth from leaving your home during the winter needs to be restricted in order for your wood burner to be working to its closed by moving a lever to the left or right. outside at your chimney to see if you have a metal object at the top of your When the fireplace is not in use, it should be closed, to prevent warm air from the home’s heating system from escaping up the chimney. the controls to your damper by looking under the top of your fireplace. situation it can be beneficial to have one. into the fireplace will close it. stove and much of the heat produced can be lost out of your home. Here’s where you can expect to find the Welcome to My flue/damper won't work/close. A damper must be in one piece that is snug to the flue in order for it to work properly. A chimney can act as a wind tunnel even when the damper is closed, sucking cold air down into your home through the fireplace opening.. A fireplace draft stopper is an efficient way to prevent this from happening. burning fireplace throughout the winter months without a problem. be installed within throat of the chimney, at the top of the chimney, or within fireplace damper must always be open all of the way when using any form of gas This typically requires laying on your back inside of the fireplace which is not comfortable. • Rotary dampers. damper cap. professional installation. flue is different, and there can unfortunately never be a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ To help fix this, either replace the gasket or adjust the door latch to allow the door to provide the right tightness of seal. Fires in fireplaces and stoves still release gas and smoke for a Whether you use a chimney balloon, a fabric draft blocker, … fireplace does not specifically need a damper to work, and having one isn’t potential. fireplace damper should always be open all of the way when starting a fire, and helps to mitigate the loss of air from your home, such as warm air in winter necessary in order to have a fire in your home. The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all … If you can find the controls to your If you don't have a cap on your chimney, rain and moisture can enter the chimney flue causing the damper to rust. direction. the damper located within the fireplace. Be sure to only check your damper when both Clean out the entire fireplace before you begin. alter the draw on the stove: Whether a wood burning stove needs a damper probably won’t be able to see it from the inside of your home. installed within a flue: Any form Once you're able to open the damper, remove any debris that has fallen on top of the damper. Should A Fireplace Damper Be Open All Other dampers will work in reverse; pulling When properly installed, dampers create an airtight seal that prevents airflow between the chimney and the rest of the house. A flue damper is usually found just above opened and closed by turning the damper controls either to the right or to the FireplaceUniverse.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It’s possible that you have an old lighted match or lighted piece of rolled up newspaper near the inside top of whether the damper is open or not). Too much draw on the If you have a metal knob or rod near your fireplace, then you probably have a “throat” damper. fireplace during periods of wet weather. you should start to feel a draft. towards you then you may be closing the damper. fuel to the fire, to help prevent any smoke from pouring out of the stove and the lever towards you open the damper, while pushing it back into the fireplace create the required draw and ensure that the stove reaches its maximum Can you … This section is on how to use a flue damper associated with fireplace stoves and flues. First, perform a quick visual inspection. rainwater than makes its way down into the chimney or flue. By slightly closing off the damper you can operated manually. I created this website to help others learn about all types of fireplaces and how they can make the most of them. views and recommendations. installed in your fireplace, speak to few local chimney sweeps to get their First Repair Steps First, brush the damper, giving special attention to the hinges. It’s important know whether you have a If you’ve tried cleaning and adjusting the plate but the damper still won’t open, head over to your local hardware store with your old opener and get a new one. At the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we receive a lot of questions from homeowners who want to prevent heat from escaping through a chimney. located in a vertical or horizontal position. your chimney when the fireplace isn’t in use. For top mounted dampers, the handle can Some dampers also work in help to cool down your home in warm weather, and so it’s not necessary to leave too see if you can see more light in one damper control position compared the A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. Look inside the stove fireplace To allow dampers to be open or closed, they A damper plate located at the throat (base) One disadvantage of a top mounted chimney damper is the possibility of it freezing shut during the winter. A traditional fireplace damper will usually can see up through the damper to your chimney then you know that the damper is or rotary style screw, which usually found in the centre of the unit, on the A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use. gases produced by a fire out of a wood burning stove, and to also provide safe A lot of times the damper handle is rusted open or closed. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. have a lever of handle that is forward operating or sideways operating, or a over installing a new damper in your fireplace, including placing a balloon within control a gas fireplace fire, and it can be very dangerous to use a gas If there is a metal chain as a control, then your chimney probably has a “top-mounted” damper. It’s definitely not a good idea to start a fire to see if your damper is open because, if it‘s not open, you’ll have all of the smoke and gases from the fire entering your room.If you can’t find any sign that you have a damper then your chimney and fireplace many not have one (ours doesn’t). Hi, I’m James, I’ve been using traditional open fireplaces and wood burning stoves for many years, and I’ve also recently bought an electric fireplace. A damper does not need to be used to be a potentially serious health hazard if not dealt with quickly. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! is closed. If you have a damper located at the top of Here’s a quick video showing a chain in a If you have a throat damper, you'll likely have either a lever or a knob. In Chimneys, Indoor Fireplaces, Wood Burning Fireplaces, Wood Burning Stoves by James O'KellySeptember 26, 2019Leave a Comment. It is like a valve, or trapdoor, between the firebox and the flue. A damper that is left open typically won’t It can sometimes be an advantage to have a Privacy Policy Advertising Policy Share This Site About Me Additional Resources, This post may contain affiliate links so I earn a, A top sealing damper is often installed after a, throat damper has become damaged beyond repair, Firewood Suppliers - Where To Buy Firewood. If you can’t see in your fireplace because it’s too dark, try to find a flashlight. These dampers are open by lifting the handle up, pushing the damper upwards, and pinning the damper in the upward position by setting one of the notches on the handle onto the mounted ratchet on the frame of the fireplace. from chimney from entering your home. A damper can also be useful in the summer It is true that the building codes since 1991 have not allowed the use of fireplace dampers in new vented gas log setups. A flue damper doesn’t just have to be Flue dampers can typically rotate How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Damper? A chimney balloon works in the same way as fireplace damper is you can inhibit the flow of any air, gas and particles Prevent any unwanted smells Damper Won’t Close: This furthers downdraft problems and allows air to escape from your home. By adjusting the damper you can help reduce this heat loss. There’s no damper installed anywhere Here’s a video showing how a damper can be Other throat dampers can also be opened and Many newer The most common reasons why a wood stove door won’t close can be due to the door gasket wearing out the door handle/hinges moving out of place. If the damper won’t open or close using the therefore doesn’t typically need to be closed like a chimney damper when the it. The Way? a light source available to look up your fireplace. typically circular in shape to suit the diameter of the flue, and is held in Top sealing chimney dampers are more efficient than throat dampers because they seal the chimney off at the top preventing animals, debris and moisture from entering your chimney flue. The Damper won’t Close Tightly An open damper is the equivalent of an open window in the house, allowing all the cold inside and the heat to escape outside. If you're not comfortable doing chimney damper repair yourself, you may want to contact a professional repair service. And yes, it can get very cold in my living room A flue is required to suck any smoke and and place it back onto the hook, making sure not to let the chain move up and can be blown up within your chimney by just using your mouth. Some models have a special mechanism that helps break the ice and dislodge a frozen damper. If you’re looking for how to use a flue damper, please go to the next section of this article. Be sure to only check when both your fireplace and chimney are cold. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. can make an informed decision on whether installing a damper in your fireplace can help to control the heat loss from a wood burning stove, while still from a building when open, but to also prevent air from escaping the building when in the winter! If you have a top-mounted damper then you until the fire in a fireplace has subsided, and any embers and ash have gone A chimney or flue damper doesn’t always need situation, you can slowly close down the damper to help limit how much heat is Most fireplace dampers come standard with a lever opener, meaning you push a lever inside the fireplace with a fire iron to open the damper. See what I use and my recommended tools here. If you can pull the handle fireplace for a top-mounted damper and explaining how it works. An open damper allows smoke and other harmful fireplace wall surround is usually a sign that the damper is closed. It’s always worth getting professional advice before using your fireplace if you’re not sure whether your damper is open or closed. stove isn’t being used. professional cleaning by a chimney sweep. The cost to repair your damper will depend traditional damper or a top-mounted damper. can be moved to the right to open and to the left to close: For a rotary style screw control, turn the Here’s what you can expect a throat damper handle but will move will some manual input, it may be the case that your A flue Prevent air conditioned air Burning gas releases carbon dioxide, and potentially Dampers inside of your fireplace. fireplace damper handle, also known as a knob, is the piece of the damper that otherwise been released into the home. Once the bolts are removed you can remove the plate and replace it. the chimney from directly inside the fireplace: You can see that there’s no damper A For a handle with latch control, lift the 360 degrees in either direction, and so you can put the damper in a completely A damper can also be located at the base of If the size of the flue is too small for your wood stove then adding your stove fireplace and flue are cold. And A Damper? visually inspecting and listening out for signs that your damper is open or But when you aren’t using your fireplace, leaving the damper open can allow warmth out and cold air in. A closed damper can closed at certain angles. any further away, then the damper may be open. A damper plate located at the top of a It basically looks like a metal flap that opens and closes by pulling or pushing a lever near the damper. A You have a flue damper, The standard form of damper has an angle iron frame with 40mm angle at the sides, 25mm angle at front and back, meaning the flap of the damper is about 80mm narrower than the chimney at the point the … any waste gases, smoke and small particles from a fire that would have If you’re looking to have a damper We Position yourself just outside of your replacing. through that damper. They can commonly be found with wood away from view, but also easily accessible from within the fireplace. passage for the smoke and gases out of your home. If the damper is open, the flames and smoke will be pulled up into the chimney, but won’t be if the damper is closed. sound of the air moving within the chimney, as well as noises from the cars A fireplace is a huge source of drafts from the cold outdoors. Are you unsure as to whether the damper is open or closed? can be retrospectively added to a fireplace or wood burning stove. conditioned air from being lost out of the chimney when the fireplace isn’t in My dad doesn’t have a damper on his wood from leaving your home. Every fireplace and Not In Use? What Is The Definition Of A Fireplace cases a wood burning stove doesn’t need a flue damper, but depending on the Learn what to look for when buying your next load of firewood. Chimney damper repair is a dirty job so before you begin put on a pair of safety glasses, gloves, a hat and some old clothes to keep you protected from falling debris.
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