The high intensity of heat can also cause the damper to warp over time. These conditions can make it difficult or impossible to control the damper. If you are having difficulty opening, closing or controlling the fireplace damper, give us a call to schedule a certified chimney sweep to repair or replace the damper.
We Have Chimney Leaks! All Articles April Showers Bring…. Can Chimneys Get Repaired in the Winter? Do I Need Fireplace Doors? Does your Chimney System Need a Makeover? Wood Fireplaces: Which is best for you? Has My Chimney Had a Fire? How Does a Chimney Work? How Much Firewood is in a Cord? Is Chimney Cleaning Always Necessary? Is Chimney Sealant a Good Idea? Is My Fireplace Safe to Use? Open fireplaces can usually be found with damper located within the upper part of the firebox.
Here are a few photos I took of the open fireplace in my living room, showing the top of the fireplace and looking up the chimney from directly inside the fireplace:. And yes, it can get very cold in my living room in the winter!
When we bought our house in , the fireplace was open and empty. As far we know, the fireplace has always been an open fireplace, and there is no reason to believe that a fireplace insert was ever put in. It may be the case that our fireplace once had an insert and that the original damper was removed, or it might be that a damper was never installed when the house was built.
A flue is required to suck any smoke and gases produced by a fire out of a wood burning stove, and to also provide safe passage for the smoke and gases out of your home. Each wood burning stove is designed to work with a specific size and diameter of flue. A damper located in a flue can be used to throttle the effectiveness of the draft on a wood burner. Too much draw on the stove and much of the heat produced can be lost out of your home.
By slightly closing off the damper you can create the required draw and ensure that the stove reaches its maximum efficiency for releasing heat. By slowing down how quickly gases leave your stove, you and help provide secondary burn of these gases and allow your stove to produce even more heat. Whether a wood burning stove needs a damper or not depends on a number of factors, but most importantly whether your flue needs to be restricted in order for your wood burner to be working to its potential.
If the size of the flue is too small for your wood stove then adding a damper can make the situation worse however. The right size chimney liner was installed at the same time as the stove, and was designed to ensure that there was sufficient draw on the fire.
This section is on how to use a chimney damper associated with an open fireplace and a chimney. Chimney dampers are objects that need to be operated manually. To allow dampers to be open or closed, they are most commonly found with a handle, rotary style screw or pull chain. Dampers with a handle can also usually be found with latches on the handle to enable them to be partially opened or closed at certain angles.
This allows the efficiency and intensity of a fire to be controlled. By leaving the damper partially open, you can learn to control the fire just like you would by adding more logs or providing more gas to the fireplace, while also allowing any smoke and gases produced by the fire to escape from your home.
By adjusting the damper you can help reduce this heat loss. Be sure to only check when both your fireplace and chimney are cold. Position yourself just outside of your fireplace and lean in under your chimney. You may be able to see an unflattering metal thing just within the opening of the chimney or flue. If you can see up through the damper to your chimney then you know that the damper is open. If you can only see a metal plate then your damper is closed. 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.
Have a look outside at your chimney to see if you have a metal object at the top of your chimney, which may be a sign that you have a chimney cap damper.
Typically, the further away from you the handle or level is, the more open the damper is. If you can pull the handle towards you then you may be closing the damper. Some dampers also work in reserve; pulling the handle towards you will open the damper, while pushing it into the fireplace will close it. Other throat dampers can also be opened and closed by moving a lever to the left or right.
A lever pushed to the left will mean a damper that is closed, while a lever pushed to the right will signify an open damper. If you have a damper located at the top of your chimney, known as a top-mounted damper, you should have a chain on the inside side of your fireplace. A chain that is hooked onto the side of the fireplace wall surround is usually a sign that the damper is closed.
A chain that is hanging freely and not hooked to anything is a sign that the damper on the top of your chimney is open. Simply place your hand at the top of the inside of your fireplace. Can you feel a draft?
You can also take a match or rolled up newspaper and light it, and place it near the inside top of your fireplace. In my living room fireplace I can hear the sound of the air moving within the chimney, as well as noises from the cars driving past outside.
A chimney sweep will be able to confirm whether your chimney has a damper or not, and how to open or close it. Check to see if your damper is already open by following the steps above. Multi-Hinged Damper — This style combines Butt Hinge with Mortise or multi hing styles, making them easily adjustable while maintaining a secure seal when closed.
A fireplace damper clamp is a specialized hardware that can be attached to the flue of your fireplace. Fireplace dampers control airflow in a chimney or venting system. The two most common types are rotary damper and linear damper. Rotary Damper: A round, perforated metal plate with an adjustable hinge so it can block off one part of the opening to create smaller openings when closed fully for no airflow through the fireplace and larger holes when open at different angles so more smoke flows up and out of the firebox.
A rotary damper manages the airflow in a chimney or venting system. Rotary dampers can be fully closed to block all airflow, open at varying angles for partial airflow, and have adjustable arms that control the width of ventilation openings from no visible light through small slits to large holes with better visibility into your firebox.
Available as rectangular boxes that attach directly onto outside wall surfaces or round metal plates installed inside an existing fireplace opening which are attached by screws around its perimeter see images.
Linear dampers are available as rectangular boxes that attach directly onto outside wall surfaces or round metal plates installed inside an existing fireplace opening which are attached by screws around its perimeter see images. There is a wide range of linear dampers from small, basic models suitable for use with gas fireplaces and solid fuel stoves up to the more complex types that can be used on wood-burning appliances too.
To avoid this problem always make sure to close down all main airflow controls on your appliances before opening linear dampers for any reason — even just to briefly look through them when no active fires are going, if you notice significant changes in their position while doing so stop using them immediately since they may be jammed or stuck shut because debris has accumulated around them blocking airflow completely!
Linear damper hardware should also be checked regularly and replaced whenever needed to keep vents open freely without obstruction. Be aware that an active flame can burn nearby combustible materials too including old gaskets around dampers which have become brittle over time. Fireplace dampers prevent heat and smoke from escaping up and out of your chimney and venting system. This can lead to backdrafts which are dangerous and should always be avoided.
Finally, inspect and replace any worn hardware that may be causing venting problems with rotary damper screws that are loose, etc. This is a common question that new homeowners have when they get their fireplaces installed. The function of this part is fairly straightforward actually, and you should be able to close yours in such a way as to allow smoke in but not back out. When it comes to fireplaces, dampers are what control the airflow into or out of a chimney.
A damper is designed to remain open when there is no building pressure on either side, which allows for a maximum draw without creating too much back-drafting. The more efficient your fireplace burns and the better its insulation, the less need you have for closing off this channel between inside and outside. Nothing can be more frustrating than that. Damper issues are one of the most common problems people have with their wood-burning appliances and if not taken care of on time, they end up costing lots of money as well.
Few things need to be checked before considering calling any professional for help: First, check whether there is enough draft coming from the chimney or outside by opening windows nearby. The most common reason for dampers not opening or closing is that they are stuck due to dust, soot, etc. There can be few other reasons too which need to be checked by professionals who have experience in handling these problems: Damper may get rusted and frozen in the open position.
If you have recently added insulation it could cause the damper to malfunction as well. Dampers usually do not work when electric heat is used along with a fireplace or stove. These are some of the possible causes why your damper does not want to close! This usually happens because of low height chimney without proper airflow inside it which results in incomplete combustion and inefficient burning process.
If you are still unable to get your dampers working then call local professionals who will come up with an effective solution for the same! If your damper is broken, it may need to be replaced. Damper replacement involves removing the old one and installing a new unit in its place. The do-it-yourself method of replacing this device takes some experience as well as safety precautions that must be taken before you start work on the fireplace.
The cost to replace a damper will vary depending on the size of your chimney and if you can do it yourself or not. When it comes to your fireplace, there are many different options for a flue damper other than the standard pull-down metal piece. Depending on what type of chimney you have and even where you live can determine which style will work best for you.
There is no right or wrong choice as long as everything that needs to be closed off from smoke stays closed until someone opens it up again! Here are some choices:. This goes into place at any height because its flexible design allows homeowners not only to close their chimneys but also direct how much airflow is present through them when they want more heat in during the winter seasons.
This is very similar to the previous model but has the added feature of being able to clear out smoke from your home at any time you want so everyone can breathe easier! They greatly reduce creosote buildup because it injects air into them while still containing heat inside when it is closed off during non-use times.
It also lets carbon monoxide escape through vents without allowing oxygen in like other types of flue systems do which could be unsafe when sitting dormant. It simply fits into place like a chimney cap would but has an added feature of opening up whenever there is high air pressure outside that forces itself open against its inner frame which contains springs.
Once the system closes off again thanks to low air pressure or lack thereof, then you can burn wood for heat without worry about smoke being sucked out through your home due to negative pressures from windy conditions! Its sole purpose is to send information about temperatures inside and outside of your home back and forth between them while making sure not too much air gets in when there are no flames present but still allowing airflow out easily once they start up again, maximizing efficiency without having creosote buildups over time.
This type of damper is controlled by remote control outside and inside the home depending on where it was installed after the installation was complete with all necessary components like electricity running through wiring properly to operate each direction.
It also helps reduce creosote buildup over time because smoke escapes through vents rather than having no place for it to go which could be dangerous if not properly monitored or contained with some kind of venting system like this one. This damper is exactly what it sounds like, a manual type of system that allows you to open and close the damper based on your desire for airflow in or out rather than being automatic. These are great if homeowners want full control over how much air goes in and out during different times throughout the year when using their fireplace insert.
This type of damper uses electricity to open and close the vents inside of it depending on how much or little heat there is in your fireplace insert. It can be installed as an extra piece for those who already have a gas fireplace but want more control over airflow through their chimney, which helps reduce creosote buildup by allowing proper flow rather than just closing off completely when not being used!
This type of damper is a good idea for homeowners who have their fireplace insert installed in an area that is shared with another room or space. They use two dampers fitted into one large opening, which can be opened and closed from both sides to control airflow between them depending on what they would like to do when using their fireplace!
This type of damper can be used as a replacement or an addition to your current fireplace insert because it will block off the chimney completely when not in use. It is typically installed on wood-burning fireplaces and inserts but can also work with gas if homeowners want less energy usage for heating their home during colder months! This type of damper uses an electric motor and fan system, which can be programmed through your smartphone if you choose this option when purchasing instead of using a manual style damper because it has no moving parts at all except for its vents that open and closes based on temperature fluctuations inside your fireplace instead.
These are good for those who want automation without having any kind of remotes involved but want some amount of control over airflow. They work by working with their gas flow alone rather than trying to reduce it once the fireplace insert is turned on unlike other products available for purchase these days.
They can be set up through your smartphone, which allows more features than some other types allow because there are no remotes needed for operation! It has no electronics involved and requires people who purchase them to use their hands instead of remotes or other types of sensors for operation.
They come in different sizes as well so make sure you know how big yours should be before purchasing an incorrect one! This is another manual crank system but works by opening and closing dampers on its own rather than having users control the airflow directly themselves via cranking it open and closed when necessary through a handle attached to the damper itself.
Remotes allow users who purchase them to control the airflow at all times throughout the day so you can keep it closed when no one is home, for example!
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