Using a Fireplace Draft Stopper. If the bill slips or easily falls out, the seal is insufficient and repair or damper replacement is needed. Separate remaining bits of firewood on the grate. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. Other fireplaces use levers to operate the throat dampers by switching it to the right or left. Throat dampers sit lower in the flue, just above the firebox. In fact, it’s estimated that top-sealing dampers can reduce heat loss by 90 percent! Typically, to open the damper, push up or lift the rod all the way. If you start a fire when the damper is closed, you’ll realize the mistake quickly when the room fills up with smoke. A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. Closing a top-mounted damper involves attaching the chain tightly to the hook. Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. 1) Visual Inspection. After years of constant exposure to heat, ashes and moisture, many fireplace dampers will become stuck, warped or inefficient. Here’s what you need to know. Another type of damper is a screw-type or rotary control damper. Poker dampers operate on a long, curved handle. Covering the Fireplace with a Draft Guard Measure the width and height of the fireplace opening. Wear safety goggles, work gloves, a hat, and old clothing. Measure each side of the opening just below the damper seal and transfer the measurements to a pattern drawn on cardboard. No. © 2021 Fluesbrothers Chimney Service. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. The damper is designed to be shut when the fireplace is not in use and can be easily opened when it is. Pull it down to close the damper. Damper operation depends on the type of damper you have. • Rotary dampers. Leave the damper open overnight. If this is the case, most dampers can be cleaned with minimal effort. Close it when it's not it use. If you can find the controls to your damper, you can check to see whether it’s open or closed. Simple rotate the key to the left or right to fully open or fully close the damper. Fireplace Damper Cost and Installation. You lift the handle, push open the damper, and prop the damper open by setting the handle into a groove. 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. There will be a rod that is fixed inside the chimney by nuts. Look up inside the fireplace with a flashlight. A pivot damper operates on a long, jointed handle. Position yourself just outside of your fireplace and lean in under your chimney. If the damper cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it will no longer work properly. The wire expands to open the damper and compresses to close it. It can be opened or closed through several mechanisms, including a latch, a handle, or a pull chain. You may be able... 2) Look for the controls. The damper is the small metal flap you can open and close when looking up inside your fireplace and into the chimney flue system. It should not accidentally close. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. A spring pulls open the hinged damper top. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. When we get calls about dampers at Magic Mountain Chimney Sweeps, we are always happy to provide answers. A fireplace damper, chimney damper, or “throat damper” is a metal plate located at the top of your chimney’s firebox. Keep the damper open until all open flames are gone. Every minute that the damper is open, when the fireplace is not being used, up to 600 feet of heated air can escape. 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. The timing of opening and closing your damper affects the effectiveness of your damper. 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 Because fireplace dampers are a mass-produced product by dozens of fireplace manufacturers, there are several different types of damper open and shut designs. Replace the handle when the damper is in place. Shut Off the Pilot. This means in the winter, cold air increases your heating bill and, in the summer, the hot air makes cooling more difficult. Close it when it's not it use. 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. There will be a “key” style device in your fireplace wall. How to Close Fireplace Damper – Wood Fireplace Flue Fireplace Flue Pipe . You must open the damper every time you start a fire. Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. 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. Wood-burning fireplaces usually have a damper installed in the upper part of the firebox. Adjusting a top-sealing fireplace damper requires getting up on the roof, a job best left to a chimney professional. Use a wrench to loosen the nuts and remove the metal rod. 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