Dampers are, after all, a crucial part of fireplace safety. Its job is to seal off the firebox from the rest of the chimney, and can be opened or close with a lever. Push the lever up slightly to disengage it from its support tab and then pull it away from the tab horizontally as the damper lowers into a closed position. Damper operation depends on the type of damper you have. A damper must be in one piece that is snug to the flue in order for it to work properly. Although top-sealing fireplace dampers tend to be relatively trouble-free, sometimes the cables need to be replaced or adjusted, or debris interferes with the moving parts. With an unsealed chimney, utility costs will typically spike because air warmed by central heating in winter will go up the chimney instead of staying inside the home. If you want an easy way to temporarily block and unused fireplace flue to stop a draft, you should consider installing a top sealing damper. Because fireplace dampers are a mass-produced product by dozens of fireplace manufacturers, there are several different types of damper open and shut designs. Separate remaining bits of firewood on the grate. From here the process is actually quite simple. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. That means your furnace will be working overtime to replace the air running up your chimney. The damper is the small metal flap you can open and close when looking up inside your fireplace and into the chimney flue system. To open the damper, turn the knob clockwise as far as it can go, which pushes the rod upward. Most dampers are constructed of cast iron or steel and will be black or rust-colored. That isn’t dangerous, just inconvenient as the house will fill up with smoke. • Pivot damper. It’s a gateway for frigid air to enter and for heated air to escape in the winter. Measure each side of the opening just below the damper seal and transfer the measurements to a pattern drawn on cardboard. Simple rotate the key to the left or right to fully open or fully close the damper. The damper is designed to be shut when the fireplace is not in use and can be easily opened when it is. Chimney top dampers sit at the top of the chimney with a chain and lever to open and close it. Close it when it's not it use. The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. 5. If you start a fire when the damper is closed, you’ll realize the mistake quickly when the room fills up with smoke. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! How to Close the Chimney Flue. The electronic-ignition models are much more energy efficient because they burn only when they are turned on. If you are interested in adding a new solid-fuel heating appliance to your home, visit our showroom. With the damper left open and no fire in the fireplace, cold air can quickly spill down the chimney and into the room. Put on goggles and a dust mask. Open the doors completely to your fireplace. Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. A damper in a fireplace is located at the top of the firebox. 1) Visual Inspection. Step 3 - Remove the Existing Damper. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you have to be sure that all of the embers have burned out before you close the damper; smoldering embers can put off dangerous carbon monoxide. Close it when it's not it use. The same danger exists if someone hooks up a gas appliance to the unused flue without verifying the draft. How to Install a Fireplace Damper Step 1 - Open the Fireplace Doors. After years of constant exposure to heat, ashes and moisture, many fireplace dampers will become stuck, warped or inefficient. Wood-burning fireplaces usually have a damper installed in the upper part of the firebox. How to Open Your Chimney Damper. Occasionally, you may need to replace a fireplace damper. The gap between the round plate and the flue pipe is small, so there is less air lost to the chimney than a masonry throat damper. Close it when it's not it use. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. Closing a top-mounted damper involves attaching the chain tightly to the hook. Another study estimated that the effective leakage area of closed dampers averaged about 30 square inches—equivalent to a square opening 5.5" x 5.5" in size allow continual flow of heated air to the outside. Closing the Damper. As the name implies, rotary damper work on a rotating system, with long, screw-like rods that move the damper. Top-sealing dampers come in two basic forms. Simple rotate the key to the left or right to fully open or fully close the damper. Shut Off the Pilot. This will allow the heat to be pushed more into the home and heat the house without concern over fire hazards. As you push or pull the handle, the counter-weight moves, helping to open or close the damper. With a top-sealing damper in place, air can’t easily escape through your chimney flue when your fireplace isn’t in use. When the damper fails to close all the way, air from the outside seeps into your home. How to Close a Chimney Flue. If this is the case, most dampers can be cleaned with minimal effort. You may, on the other hand, have a top-mount damper, which is located at the very top of the chimney flue. A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. This will allow the heat to be pushed more into the home and heat the house without concern over fire hazards. There will be a “key” style device in your fireplace wall. Gas-log fireplaces are equipped with either a standing pilot light (one that is lit all the time) or with electronic ignition. | Privacy Policy | Service Areas, Factory-Built Fireplace Dangers You Should Be Aware Of, Fireplace Considerations for Landlords, Property Managers & HOA’s, Fall in Love with Wood Burning Fireplaces. Its job is to seal off the firebox from the rest of the chimney, and can be opened or close with a lever. A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. The plate pivots open and closed and is operated by a handle. Use a wrench to loosen the nuts and remove the metal rod. Step 6 - Open Damper. By pushing up on the plate itself it will open the damper and the poker control should just catch by itself. In fact, it’s estimated that top-sealing dampers can reduce heat loss by 90 percent! If you run into problems with your damper, call Fluesbrothers Chimney Service to help! Stir embers on the fireplace floor. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Wood Fireplace Flue Fireplace Flue Pipe . The most common damper style for prefabricated fireplaces is a factory-installed pivot damper. Some of the most common types of dampers include: • Poker dampers. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! If the damper grips the dollar bill all the way across, your damper has a sufficient seal. Keep the damper open until all open flames are gone. It's common to forget to close the damper after a fire goes out, however, and that leaves a big hole through which heated or cooled air can escape the house. You can reach inside of the fireplace opening and behind the lintel to touch the damper. Position yourself just outside of your fireplace and lean in under your chimney. Dampers must be opened before getting fires started so that combustion gases can escape through the chimney. Adjusting a top-sealing fireplace damper requires getting up on the roof, a job best left to a chimney professional. Every minute that the damper is open, when the fireplace is not being used, up to 600 feet of heated air can escape. • Pivot damper. 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. Look up into the fireplace opening and note the shape of the opening just below the damper. Leave the damper open overnight. Take your old damper with you to a chimney supply store. You’ve got to make sure that vents (ph) up the house; it’s not slightly open, it’s all the way open. You lift the handle, push open the damper, and prop … Fireplace dampers are metal “doors” inside chimney flues, and they help to control ventilation. by Jeremy Biswell | Oct 12, 2018 | Fireplace Maintenance. Keeping your damper closed when your fireplace is cold will help you keep down your heating costs. To start a fire, you must have the damper in the full-open position. A fireplace is a huge source of drafts from the cold outdoors. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. Location. The handle has grooves in it to hold the damper in place. The damper can be opened and closed through a few different mechanisms, including a latch, a pull chain, or a handle. How to Block Off a Fireplace. © 2021 Fluesbrothers Chimney Service. If your damper is located at the top of your chimney, you have a top-mount damper. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Stove Dimensions. A fireplace flue is designed to lead smoke outdoors when your fireplace is being used. Wear safety goggles, work gloves, a hat, and old clothing. This is done to prevent warm, interior room air from being pulled into the firebox and up the chimney. Some models feature a stainless steel cap atop a diagonal spring wire. Unless you have a vent-free fireplace, the first step you should take before lighting a fire in a wood-burning fireplace or gas fireplace is to open the damper. When it comes to closing the damper, however, it takes a little more care. Here’s what you need to know. And while older wood-burning fireplaces can function safely without a damper (gas fireplaces cannot), a chimney without a damper is just a gaping hole in the roof of your house. Fireplace dampers come in two main types: Chimney top and throat. You lift the handle, push open the damper, and prop the damper open by setting the handle into a groove. When we get calls about dampers at Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps, we are always happy to provide answers. The real danger is if there are gas logs in the fireplace. A fireplace throat damper is comprised of two main components: the Frame and Flapper. Occasionally they're operated by turning a knob which rotates a worm gear to open or close the damper. | Web Marketing by Brandtastic! Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace. If you have a throat damper, you'll likely have either a lever or a knob. A throat damper, which is the most common, is located just above the firebox inside of the chimney flue. Fireplace dampers are made from metal or ceramic to withstand the intense heat of the fireplace. To open or close the damper, lift the handle and push or pull to move the damper to the desired position. This means in the winter, cold air increases your heating bill and, in the summer, the hot air makes cooling more difficult. Learn all about fireplace damper basics below. The frame is mortared in place just below the smoke shelf. Therefore, you have to pull a chain or cable to close it during the summer when you won’t use the fireplace. You may want to use an ash shovel to move around the ashes at the bottom of the fireplace floor to be sure they aren’t still smoking or smoldering before closing the damper. To close it, you simply lift the handle up again, pull the damper shut, and set the handle back into position on the ratchet. You may be able... 2) Look for the controls. Whether your fireplace is gas or wood-burning, if it was built with a pre-fabricated insert, then it almost certainly has a damper. A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Toward the end of the evening, let the fire die down instead of adding more logs. The operation of your damper will depend on the type of damper you have. The only way to know if a damper is open or closed is to view it from inside the fireplace firebox. If you only need to replace the damper plate, these cost around $50. A chimney cap damper costs around $200 to $300, not including the screened chimney cap, which runs between $90 and $120. Wait 5 minutes before closing the damper on gas fireplaces. Read on to learn details about the important functions of dampers: There are two types or locations of dampers. A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house. Why is this so important? Replace the handle when the damper is in place. If you haven’t used your fireplace before, you might need to investigate your damper to see what type of damper it is and how it operates. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. Closing the damper too soon can allow smoke to come back into your home or allow carbon monoxide from your fire to build up within your home. Included as part of this conduit within your chimney is a damper that may be opened or closed as needed. Fireplace Damper Cost and Installation. Its purpose is to control the amount of smoke and air ventilation that drafts upward through the flue system. Pull it down to close the damper. The flap is located inside the chimney flue found inside the chimney. When the embers are cold to the touch, pull the cord or lever to close the damper. The top of the damper stays horizontal the entire time, so in the “open” position, the damper also serves as a chimney cap. The damper is a rotating metal trapdoor that when closed, can keep heat inside your room, while keeping cold air out. You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. That is where your damper seal will be installed. Covering the Fireplace with a Draft Guard Measure the width and height of the fireplace opening. Look for evidence that the damper is jammed by debris, nests, or dead animals that have fallen into the chimney. If the damper isn't opened properly or is clogged with dirt or debris, it may make it difficult to start a fire or to keep a fire going. When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. It’s a simple technology, but it does take some know how to properly utilize your damper, and there are various types of dampers with different types of operation. Do You Need a New Chimney? The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. Typically, you will release the chain or cable, which should result in the damper springing up to an open position. Here’s how to Tell. A lever that’s pushed to the left will close the damper whereas a lever pushed to the right will open it. But, what do I do with my older home’s fireplace that has a missing or badly damaged damper? A fireplace damper, chimney damper, or “throat damper” is a metal plate located at the top of your chimney’s firebox. When you aren’t using your fireplace, it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. 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. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. Contact. The damper is a crucial piece of hardware for any fireplace. … There will be a rod that is fixed inside the chimney by nuts. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. We know that cold air is heavier than warm air. Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. Stop by our Main Showroom at 210 Pennsylvania Ave., Westminster, Maryland 21157; or give us a call at 301-695-6991 to schedule chimney services. We’ve got a few tips to help you find out if your damper needs to be opened and how to do it. Can I partially close the damper on my wood-burning fireplace so less air goes up the chimney? Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. You may want to consult a professional in choosing a new damper, but if you do not want to, simply taking your existing damper with you when yo… Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. It is important that a damper is in good operating condition so that air cannot freely pass through the damper doors when they are closed. The opening in the frame is typically 3" to 8" wide and 24" to 36" long. There will be a “key” style device in your fireplace wall. There are two basic ways to open and close a throat damper. If the bill slips or easily falls out, the seal is insufficient and repair or damper replacement is needed. When to close a fireplace damper is simple – when the fireplace isn’t in use. © 2020 Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps | Service Areas | All Rights Reserved | Web Marketing by Brandtastic! Other models feature a low-profile frame that fits the very top of the damper. Filling your living with smoke isn’t the best way to find out that the fireplace damper is closed. The primary purpose of a damper is to seal off the firebox from the chimney. If you suspect a jam, it’s best to let a chimney sweep clear it. If your damper is located at the top of your fireplace, you have a traditional throat damper. Yes, close the damper once all of the fire has died out. Is My Chimney Damper Open or Closed? Throat dampers sit lower in the flue, just above the firebox. Other fireplaces use levers to operate the throat dampers by switching it to the right or left. When a fireplace is not in use, the damper should be closed to operate as a “seal.” Otherwise, cold air will enter the home. A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. Simply close the damper (or door) tight, and the heat is contained in the house. The wire expands to open the damper and compresses to close it. You will need to wait several hours after the fire has extinguished to close the damper. It sits just above the firebox at the base of the chimney. If your damper has significant rusting, this part may be difficult, and if the metal rod itself has rusted you will want to replace it and the corresponding nuts. The second type of damper is a top mount, or top sealing damper located at the top of the chimney. Close it when it's not it use. It should not accidentally close. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Stovax Vogue Small Wood Burning Stove with Cast Iron top. The wire expands to open the damper and compresses to close it. For top-quality chimney maintenance services, including damper repair and replacement, contact Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps. • Rotary dampers. Close the throat damper after the fire has cooled completely. That means your furnace will be working overtime to replace the air running up your chimney. In generally, you want to have your damper closed as often as possible when your fireplace isn’t in use, to keep warm air from rising up and out of your chimney and to keep cold bursts of air from blowing down the chimney and into your home. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper … You can follow these easy steps to block off your fireplace or even to close it up completely. Doing so will keep some of the warm air from your heating system from escaping up the chimney. Cut out the pattern and put it in place to see if it fits. Many homeowners know their chimney damper, aka fireplace damper, needs to be opened before starting a fire but don’t know how to tell if the damper is open or closed. Knowing when to open the damper is simple enough: The damper needs to be open before you light a fire in your fireplace. Typically, you will close the damper by turning it counterclockwise all the way, which causes the rod to hang down low. Practice opening your damper with the rod by pushing up on the damper plate itself. Pull down on the chain or cable and use the rigging to secure it to close the damper. You can clean a dirty or rusty damper with a wire brush along with lots of elbow grease. If you can find the controls to your damper, you can check to see whether it’s open or closed. Close the damper after all the embers are burnt out. Pulling the handle towards you will close the damper. Step 4 - Purchase a New Damper. Although heat rises, cold air sinks in the direction of the gravity pull. 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