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There are many kinds of dampers, depending upon how old the house is and the choice by the masons. Many dampers have a hinge on the rear and a handle that can be pushed or lifted to lift the front and latch it open. Others have a lever designed to move with a knob or chain connected to the damper. Some chimneys have counter-balanced dampers on the top of the chimney that are opened by pulling and latching a chain. A "tilt and slide" damper not only opens with a handle, but also has a movable grating that can be "slid" open and shut using a knob cast into it. If you have a gas log fireplace and can not close your damper by the handle it is very possible that the damper has been disabled or welded open according to the 1991 building code that states that dampers in new gas log fireplaces must be disabled. The only type of damper that is allowable to use in a gas log fireplace is an inflatable damper. If you do not have a gas log fireplace and you cannot open or close your damper it is likely that it has corroded to the point of non-function. The chimney is a very acidy and corrosive environment any metal in it will rust and degrade rapidly over time. Lubricate the damper with a penetrating oil and try to loosen it by hand or call a chimney sweep to come and work on it.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIf you have a damper in the fireplace there should be a handle that will allow you to close this damper or metal flapper. If the damper or metal flapper is missing, damaged or broken you can get parts to fix it or you can install a chimney balloon to plug the chimney at the bottom or a chimney top damper to plug it at the top. Chimney top dampers work well to stop birds, bugs and vermin from entering the top of the chimney. A Chimney balloon is not as expensive and will stop air and odor from passing through the chimney into the living area. ---- Note: Some gas log fireplaces have the damper disabled or removed because of the building code requirement for gas log fireplaces that was started in the 1990s. The reason for this code is to prevent a homeowner from asphixiating the occupants of the home by using the gas log without opening the damper. The downside of this code is you are loosing inside heat or air conditioned air constantly through the chimney. If this is the case with your gas log the only way you can plug your flue is with a chimney balloon since it is not a permanant mechanical damper.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThere are many different designs but most often you will need to use a flash light to look up into the firebox throat. In the throat you will often see a heavy wrought iron lever that you can move by hand. Try grabbing it and moving it upwards a bit to release it from the catch that holds it open and let the flu close downwards. I'll suggest you tie a ribbon or string onto the lever to remind yourself that the flu is in a closed position. Remeber to open the flu before building a fire again.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThere will be a lever just inside the fireplace up in the flue portion, move this and observe what position is open.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoA damper is a valve just above the fireplace to ventilate fresh oxygen to the fire. Without oxygen a fire cannot produce flame. There should be a lever near the fireplace to open this valve.
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Where can one find info about fireplace flue damper ?
If you are looking for more information on where can you find info about fireplace flue damper, the best place to look is on www.csia.org/FAQs/tabid/120/Default.aspx
Where can one purchase a chimney damper?
One can purchase a chimney damper from a variety of stores. Chimney dampers can be purchased from fireplace specialists such as Woodland Direct, or from online stores such as Amazon.
How does a damper work?
A damper restricts the air flow. In a fireplace, the damper is closed to prevent air from going up the chimney, with a resulting loss of heat in the house, when the fire is not going. When a fire is to be started, the damper is opened to create a draft to vent the smoke. In a wood or coal burning stove, the damper is variable and can be used to regulate the draft. The more widely open the damper is, the greater the draft, and the hotter to fire burns. This sort of damper cannot be closed all the way, because it is necessary to vent slow fires. Sometimes, a stove will have multiple dampers for different purposes. For example, a wood cook stove will have typically a damper on the flue, to regulate the heat of the fire, and a separate damper so the cook can choose to vent the gasses from the fire directly into to chimney, which would be how a fire is started, or around the oven, so the oven can heat nicely once a good draft is established. In other systems where air is moved, dampers can be used to stop the motion of the air. A fire damper is one such system, where the damper is used as a safety device to prevent a fire from spreading. There are links below.
How do you open a damper?
For a fireplace, you should have a flashlight, and a pair of safety glasses (you WILL get soot in your face the first time). Kneel, lean over, shine the light up the chimney. You should see a rectangular metal plate- that is the damper. Usually has a handle that has notches on one side. Move the handle so that the notches are clear of the frame, and push up on the handle- damper should swing open. Hook the notches on the frame so that the damper STAYS open. Now use the flashlight to check for any foreign material (leaves, dead birds, animal nests) that may have been sitting there- they need to be removed before using the fireplace. A metal chimney cap will keep that stuff out. Now go wash your hands. And probably, your face.
What is the meaning of a chimney cap damper?
A top damper or cap damper is a metal spring door placed at the top of the chimney with a long metal chain that allows one to open and close the damper from the fire place.
What are some easy and inexpensive ways to reduce the heat being lost through the chimney of a fireplace?
The main thing that one should do to make sure that heat is not being lost through the chimney of a fireplace is to always close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. In addition, you can also use a fireplace door or cover to prevent additional heat loss.
Your chimney allows cold air into the house. How do you close it off?
shine a light up the chimney and you should see a metal plate or door with a handle on one end that can be adjusted to be vertical (or open-allowing you to see completely up the chimney or adjusted so that it is completely flat and completely blocking the opening (closed) common sense here. It's simply a door,. opening or closing the flue which is always in the open position when having a fire in the fireplace and is always in the closedpositioned when the fire is completely out and never closed unless the fire is absolutely and positively out!!! For a fireplace to not have a damper (door) would be practically unheard of these days, but, if you check and there is none simply buy a cover or make one yourself and use it only when no fire is present
We can't find the handle for the fireplace damper at our old rental It was built in 1926. Do all fireplaces have dampers?
No- very early or primitive fireplaces did not. Yours SHOULD have one- it may have been removed if there was a wood stove exhausted through the fireplace at some point. Time to get dirty- if you have not already done so, get a pair of safety goggles (you WILL get stuff in your face) a strong flashlight, clean out the fireplace, and lay back in the firebox so you can look up. The damper should sit in a steel frame, normally hinged to swing UP the chimney. If missing, contact a contractor the specializes in chimney service- one can be fitted for you, or a replacement damper provided.
Why use barometric damper on wood furnace?
A Barometric Damper when used properly will help regulate the draft. This in return will allow for better combustion, longer burns and less fuel to be used. One problem with a Barometric Damper is the chimney will run a little cooler due to the introduction of room air. If the unit isn't being burned correctly, this can cause creosote to accumulate in the chimney. The Barometric Damper and flue must be checked periodically and cleaned when necessary.
When you burn wood in your fireplace why does the smoke come in the house?
When you burn wood in your fireplace, smoke might enter your house due to several reasons: The damper isn’t open: The damper controls the flow of air and smoke through the chimney. If it’s closed, smoke can’t escape and will come back into the house. Burning the wrong type of wood: Some types of wood produce more smoke than others. Also, wet or unseasoned wood can cause excessive smoke. The fireplace has not been used in a while: If a fireplace hasn’t been used for a long time, there could be blockages in the chimney that prevent smoke from escaping. Fire is too big: A fire that’s too large can produce more smoke than the chimney can handle, causing some of it to spill back into the room. Flue blockage: Birds’ nests, leaves, or other debris can block the flue, preventing smoke from exiting. Cracked chimney or gaps in your chimney flue: These can allow smoke to leak into your home. Backdraft problem due to multiple flues: If you have multiple fireplaces and they share a chimney, using one fireplace could cause a backdraft in another, bringing smoke into the house. Your house is too airtight: Modern homes are often very well insulated and airtight, which can prevent the necessary airflow for the smoke to draw up the chimney. It’s important to identify and address these issues to ensure the smoke properly vents outside and doesn’t enter your living space. If you’re unsure, it’s best to consult with a professional.
Fireplace Inspection: Saves Money on Fireplace Repairs?
A working fireplace adds not only heat to a home, but also adds an arguably unmatched aesthetic appeal to any room. As with anything, the benefits of a fireplace do not come without its negative: regular maintenance. Although maintenance on a fireplace is not as frequent as say an automobile, fireplace repairs are necessary to keep a fireplace working in a safe manner. The following lists common fireplace problems and will help give insight into why regular fireplace maintenance should be a priority.BlockageOne of the most frequent problems fireplace experience overtime is blockage. Specifically, blockage occurs in the flue of a chimney. The reason for blockage can be one of many, ranging from bird nests to dislodged material and debris from inside the chimney. Blockages are a problem because they prevent the chimney from performing one of its main tasks: removing smoke and gas created within the fireplace from the home. Local chimney repair specialists will be able to skillfully and quickly remove the obstruction, allowing the fireplace and chimney to once again function normally.Cracking in the FlueAnother of the most common fireplace problems is when the flue begins to crack overtime. Cracking can result from flue age, gases created from the fireplace, or a combination of both. As a fireplace gets older, naturally its materials will begin to degrade over time. The fireplace also creates gases which can be corrosive to the flue and other areas to which they are exposed. Tying into the first problem, cracking can lead to blockages in the future, so making sure the fireplace is inspected at least annually by a trained professional can save a homeowner a lot of financial headaches in the future.External Brickwork DamageAs the corrosive gas from the fireplace can lead to blocking, it can also lead to external damage to the chimney's outer brickwork. A leaking flue caused by a crack can severely damage the external masonry work and entire chimney infrastructure integrity overtime. Once the structure of the chimney is compromised, major repairs will be needed in order to keep the fireplace working safely.At the very least, every home with a fireplace should have its fireplace inspected by a local chimney repair specialist. The price of an inspection is a small price to pay for safety, but an inspection can also save a homeowner money by preventing the need for major repairs.
Whats the proper way to construct a fireplace so as to not fill one's home with smoke?
The answer to this would fill a small book! The fireplace has certain design measurements that are related to each other- size of opening at front, angles of sides, angle of slope at top, size of back, size of flue, depth of fireplace, height of chimney above surrounding surfaces, etc. A fireplace that follows those design elements will work and burn well. When those designs are not followed, you will not only have a smoky house, but an increased risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc. The design criteria are available- do a on line search for "fireplace design", check with your library- or find a mason that builds fireplaces, and buy him a cup of coffee. PS- you will need more than one kind of brick- the firebox should be lined with firebrick- the flue lined with a clay tile liner (or metal flue).
