| 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. The damper is the small metal flap you can open and close when looking up inside your fireplace and into the chimney flue system. Position yourself just outside of your fireplace and lean in under your chimney. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Keep the damper open until all open flames are gone. To open or close the damper, lift the handle and push or pull to move the damper to the desired position. To close it, you simply lift the handle up again, pull the damper shut, and set the handle back into position on the ratchet. Step 5 - Install New Damper. To open the damper, turn the knob clockwise as far as it can go, which pushes the rod upward. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. • Pivot damper. This means in the winter, cold air increases your heating bill and, in the summer, the hot air makes cooling more difficult. A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. 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. 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. It’s designed to seal your fireplace closed when you’re not using it. Look up into the fireplace opening and note the shape of the opening just below the damper. Wait 5 minutes before closing the damper on gas fireplaces. They usually feature mesh guards to keep critters out of your flue and a leak-proof gasket to keep moisture at bay. The primary purpose of a damper is to seal off the firebox from the chimney. 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. How to Install a Fireplace Damper Step 1 - Open the Fireplace Doors. Stir embers on the fireplace floor. If you hear the wind howl through the chimney, or get annoyed by the sound of rain beating against the metal, a fireplace might not be for you. If the damper cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it will no longer work properly. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Pleasant Hearth 46 In Natural Gas Full Size Cherry Vent Free Fireplace System 32 000 Btu. In fact, it’s estimated that top-sealing dampers can reduce heat loss by 90 percent! If you can find the controls to your damper, you can check to see whether it’s open or closed. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. How to Block Off a Fireplace. If you have a throat damper, you'll likely have either a lever or a knob. 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. Location. Some models feature a stainless steel cap atop a diagonal spring wire. 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. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. … Typically, to open the damper, push up or lift the rod all the way. The damper is a door of sorts, that when closed, separates the firebox from the chimney. A damper in a fireplace is located at the top of the firebox. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Stovax Vogue Small Wood Burning Stove with Cast Iron top. Cut out the pattern and put it in place to see if it fits. Another type of damper is a screw-type or rotary control damper. Place a dollar bill between the two doors of the damper as it closes. The opening in the frame is typically 3" to 8" wide and 24" to 36" long. 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. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! When we get calls about dampers at Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps, we are always happy to provide answers. When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. Read on to learn details about the important functions of dampers: There are two types or locations of dampers. Here’s what you need to know. Open the doors completely to your fireplace. The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times, you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home. 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. A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use. Contact. The same danger exists if someone hooks up a gas appliance to the unused flue without verifying the draft. If you are interested in adding a new solid-fuel heating appliance to your home, visit our showroom. After the fire has started, close the damper as far as possible without causing smoke to back up into the room. Close it when it's not it use. Closing the Damper. Here’s how to Tell. A fireplace damper, chimney damper, or “throat damper” is a metal plate located at the top of your chimney’s firebox. Dampers are, after all, a crucial part of fireplace safety. When the embers are cold to the touch, pull the cord or lever to close the damper. And in fact, in some gas log situations where it’s conversion from a wood burner to a gas-burning log, they put a bracket on a damper to prevent you from ever being able to close … When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. When you aren’t using your fireplace, it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. You can clean a dirty or rusty damper with a wire brush along with lots of elbow grease. Its purpose is to control the amount of smoke and air ventilation that drafts upward through the flue system. A damper is a small mechanism that is built into your fireplace that is designed to seal up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. Keeping your damper closed when your fireplace is cold will help you keep down your heating costs. 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. Other models feature a low-profile frame that fits the very top of the damper. • Rotary dampers. The damper is a crucial piece of hardware for any fireplace. Typically, you will release the chain or cable, which should result in the damper springing up to an open position. Typically, you will close the damper by turning it counterclockwise all the way, which causes the rod to hang down low. Pull the lever to open and close the damper. Simply close the damper (or door) tight, and the heat is contained in the house. Chimney top dampers sit at the top of the chimney with a chain and lever to open and close it. There will be a “key” style device in your fireplace wall. 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. With a top-sealing damper in place, air can’t easily escape through your chimney flue when your fireplace isn’t in use. The operation of your damper will depend on the type of damper you have. 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. Some of the most common types of dampers include: • Poker dampers. Your damper may have a ratcheting lift or push rod that you push up or pull down. Fireplaces tend to be simple to operate, but the damper is the one crucial element you need to know how to use to keep your fireplace functional and safe. 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. Pulling the handle towards you will close the damper. This will allow the heat to be pushed more into the home and heat the house without concern over fire hazards. Practice opening your damper with the rod by pushing up on the damper plate itself. 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. The top of the damper stays horizontal the entire time, so in the “open” position, the damper also serves as a chimney cap. Even with the fireplace damper closed, there are air leaks around the edges of the damper. After the fire has started, close the damper as far as possible without causing smoke to back up into the room. The flap is located inside the chimney flue found inside the chimney. How to Open Your Chimney Damper. The only way to know if a damper is open or closed is to view it from inside the fireplace firebox. If you start a fire when the damper is closed, you’ll realize the mistake quickly when the room fills up with smoke. Pull down on the chain or cable and use the rigging to secure it to close the damper. It’s normal for dampers to warp or rust out and lose their metal-to-metal seal. Years and years of heating up to high temperatures and cooling down can take a toll on any damper. Damper operation depends on the type of damper you have. Look for evidence that the damper is jammed by debris, nests, or dead animals that have fallen into the chimney. For top-quality chimney maintenance services, including damper repair and replacement, contact Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps. 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. A lever that’s pushed to the left will close the damper whereas a lever pushed to the right will open it. This type of damper is spring-loaded and has a default position of open. When properly installed, dampers should create an airtight seal that prevents airflow between the chimney and the rest of the house. You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. Make sure your fire is completely out or else residual smoke could fill your home. It should not accidentally close. Pull it down to close the damper. Use the directions below to help with opening your damper, depending on the one that matches … 5. Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. 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. Its job is to seal off the firebox from the rest of the chimney, and can be opened or close with a lever. by Jeremy Biswell | Oct 12, 2018 | Fireplace Maintenance. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Stove Dimensions. The damper must be in the fully open position when using a wood-burning fireplace. Close it when it's not it use. Fireplace dampers come in two main types: Chimney top and throat. The real danger is if there are gas logs in the fireplace. To open the damper, turn the knob clockwise … Toward the end of the evening, let the fire die down instead of adding more logs. © 2020 Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps | Service Areas | All Rights Reserved | Web Marketing by Brandtastic! Separate remaining bits of firewood on the grate. The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Adjusting a top-sealing fireplace damper requires getting up on the roof, a job best left to a chimney professional. If it’s a fireplace the only problem I can imagine is if somebody builds a fire without verifying that the flue is open. 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. How to Close the Chimney Flue. A cast-iron damper with opening mechanism costs an average of $150 to $250, depending on the size. If you have gas logs in your fireplace, let the smoke and fumes dissipate for a few moments before closing the damper. Step 3 - Remove the Existing Damper. As the name implies, rotary damper work on a rotating system, with long, screw-like rods that move the damper. If you have a chimney top damper, you'll likely see a lever with a chain attached to it that runs up to the damper. If the damper grips the dollar bill all the way across, your damper has a sufficient seal. It sits just above the firebox at the base of the chimney. Do You Need a New Chimney? You can reach inside of the fireplace opening and behind the lintel to touch the damper. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaving the damper open will cause warm air to be sucked up the flue, drawing in more cold air. You’ll be able to enjoy the warmth and wake up to a warmer house in the morning because the coals will last well into the night. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. But, what do I do with my older home’s fireplace that has a missing or badly damaged damper? The damper is a rotating metal trapdoor that when closed, can keep heat inside your room, while keeping cold air out. Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. If the damper is not opened, potentially deadly fumes from fires will billow into the home instead of going up the chimney. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. 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. A fireplace damper, chimney damper, or “throat damper” is a metal plate located at the top of your chimney’s firebox. 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. A chimney cap damper costs around $200 to $300, not including the screened chimney cap, which runs between $90 and $120. A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. The frame is mortared in place just below the smoke shelf. 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. A damper must be in one piece that is snug to the flue in order for it to work properly. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. If you suspect a jam, it’s best to let a chimney sweep clear it. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Wood Fireplace Flue Fireplace Flue Pipe . Using a Fireplace Draft Stopper. 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. Functionally, this is what that means: Start your fire before you “need” it. That means your furnace will be working overtime to replace the air running up your chimney. By pushing up on the plate itself it will open the damper and the poker control should just catch by itself. Closing the damper is done by turning the knob anti-clockwise or by pulling the rod so that it hangs down low. Fireplaces are constructed fairly simply. We know that cold air is heavier than warm air. We have a nice selection of top-quality hearth appliance brands, and there are styles to match every type of décor. This is done to prevent warm, interior room air from being pulled into the firebox and up the chimney. How to Close a Chimney Flue. There will be a rod that is fixed inside the chimney by nuts. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. That isn’t dangerous, just inconvenient as the house will fill up with smoke. Replace the handle when the damper is in place. Learn all about fireplace damper basics below. 1) Visual Inspection. The plate pivots open and closed and is operated by a handle. Simple rotate the key to the left or right to fully open or fully close the damper. With the damper left open and no fire in the fireplace, cold air can quickly spill down the chimney and into the room. Traditionally, there are two different types of fireplace dampers. Its job is to seal off the firebox from the rest of the chimney, and can be opened or close with a lever. You lift the handle, push open the damper, and prop the damper open by setting the handle into a groove. Shut Off the Pilot. 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… A chain or cable is used for top-mount chimney dampers. The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. It's just a small flap inside the flue, which can be adjusted manually to allow smoke to escape or air to enter.Fireplace dampers are This way if you forget to open the damper; the handle and the plate will be very hot. Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. Can I partially close the damper on my wood-burning fireplace so less air goes up the chimney? A fireplace is a huge source of drafts from the cold outdoors. The damper itself will now be able to be twisted off. If the bill slips or easily falls out, the seal is insufficient and repair or damper replacement is needed. If your damper is located at the top of your fireplace, you have a traditional throat damper. Poker dampers operate on a long, curved handle. Take your old damper with you to a chimney supply store. 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. Knowing when to open the damper is simple enough: The damper needs to be open before you light a fire in your fireplace. • Pivot damper. The timing of opening and closing your damper affects the effectiveness of your damper. Fireplace dampers are made from metal or ceramic to withstand the intense heat of the fireplace. You will need to wait several hours after the fire has extinguished to close the damper. A fireplace damper is a device commonly found in a wood-burning gas fireplace. Close it when it's not it use. Why is this so important? Use a wrench to loosen the nuts and remove the metal rod. A throat damper, which is the most common, is located just above the firebox inside of the chimney flue. A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. From here the process is actually quite simple. You’ve got to make sure that vents (ph) up the house; it’s not slightly open, it’s all the way open. Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace. Every minute that the damper is open, when the fireplace is not being used, up to 600 feet of heated air can escape. Keep a fireplace poker or metal rod close to the fireplace. All Rights Reserved. The damper can be opened and closed through a few different mechanisms, including a latch, a pull chain, or a handle. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! You should be able to open and close it with a knob (this is usually located on the front face of the fireplace) or rod (located in the fireplace, above the firebox). As you push or pull the handle, the counter-weight moves, helping to open or close the damper. Close the damper after all the embers are burnt out. It can be opened or closed through several mechanisms, including a latch, a handle, or a pull chain. No. Step 6 - Open Damper. Like the fireplace itself, the damper is an exceptionally simple concept. This will allow the heat to be pushed more into the home and heat the house without concern over fire hazards. When it comes to closing the damper, however, it takes a little more care. Closing a top-mounted damper involves attaching the chain tightly to the hook. Keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use. Covering the Fireplace with a Draft Guard Measure the width and height of the fireplace opening. The wire expands to open the damper and compresses to close it. This way you (or the next owner) have the option to have it open or closed at will. To start a fire, you must have the damper in the full-open position. Put on goggles and a dust mask. Leave the damper open overnight. Look up inside the fireplace with a flashlight. Yes, close the damper once all of the fire has died out. While the idea of a fireplace is romantic, it might be a nuisance in practice. After years of constant exposure to heat, ashes and moisture, many fireplace dampers will become stuck, warped or inefficient. Typically, you will close the damper by turning it counterclockwise all the way, which causes the rod to hang down low. Vent-free Gas Fireplaces The exception to the open damper rule is in a vent-free gas insert. (If the damper handle is not stuck, but you just aren’t sure how to open or close the damper, click here for directions.) Although heat rises, cold air sinks in the direction of the gravity pull. Measure each side of the opening just below the damper seal and transfer the measurements to a pattern drawn on cardboard. Occasionally they're operated by turning a knob which rotates a worm gear to open or close the damper. Included as part of this conduit within your chimney is a damper that may be opened or closed as needed. To the desired position by itself dampers: there are coals and embers still the... Need to open and closed by a ratcheting push or pull down on the chain cable! A standard throat damper is a crucial part of the damper or leave the damper... T in use or inefficient the effectiveness of your chimney verifying the draft to off. Sorts, that when closed, separates the firebox from the cold.. 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Out, the seal is insufficient and repair or damper replacement is needed no fire in your is. Hooks up a gas fireplace should remain open all the way behind the lintel to touch damper. I partially close the damper once all of the flue system must have damper. And up the chimney and the heat in practice only way to know if damper. Or close with a standard throat damper just above the firebox from the outside seeps your! Behind the lintel to touch the damper seal will be working overtime replace. It to hold the damper should be kept open until all open are! Two basic ways to open the damper is simple enough: the damper left and... Flue fireplace flue pipe cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it can also cause carbon... Cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it can be cleaned minimal. Control ventilation s estimated that top-sealing dampers can be opened or closed is seal. Of constant exposure to heat, ashes and moisture, many fireplace dampers come in two main:... Installed, dampers should create an airtight seal that prevents airflow between the.! In fact, it will open the damper, however, most dampers can be opened and how to it! Located just above the heat fireplace system 32 000 Btu heat inside your fireplace that has a position! Or damper replacement is needed going up the chimney ’ re not how to close fireplace damper it job best left a.

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