And, any structural alterations, such as … Charlie's Chimney Sweeps in New Richmond, OH, are experts in chimney inspection, maintenance, and repair and can help with any problem that arises with your system. However, a gas fireplace will require a much smaller flue liner – you are able to use a flue liner that is only 5 to 6 inches in diameter. JO: Yeah, I moved into this house about 12 years ago and the gas logs were already here. Opening the damper in a fireplace before starting a fire to avoid smoke damage to your home. Other designs include the look-through type with two opposite faces and three-face types. If you start a fire before opening the throat damper, smoke will flow out of the fireplace instead of going up the chimney. (Make sure there has not been a fire recently as the flue gets hot.) She has been an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America certified fitness instructor since 2001. Visually inspect the flue damper during the daytime to see if it is in the open or closed position. It's important to keep the flue open when a fire is burning, or smoke will have no where to go but back inside the house. It often has a damper mechanism, commonly a piece of metal that fits in or just below it, which can be opened or closed. There is a spring that keeps the top-mount damper open, and the controlling cable or handle is usually attached to the fireplace wall. Open fires with larger fireplace openings (usually freestanding grates) will need larger flue sizes calculated alongside the height of the chimney and required ventilation. If your fireplace has pull chains, pull the longer chain to disengage the damper and then pull the shorter chain to close the flue. The flue is simply the open middle of the chimney that the smoke goes up. What can we do for you? In general, chimney cap dampers are closed if the chain is hooked to the wall surround of your fireplace. Once the fire is out, it's important to close the flue so the warmth that was created doesn't escape out the … It is easy enough to figure out. 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. When there is no fire burning in the fireplace, the damper should be closed to keep heated or cooled air from escaping out of the chimney. Use a flashlight to look up into the chimney opening to see what can be verified. When you're fire is out or during seasons that you don't have fires, keep the flue damper shut to prevent heat or cooling loss. Before you can learn how to open and close the damper, you need to know which type of damper you have. If there is a metal chain in or besides your fireplace, it means that your chimney has a top-mounted damper. if handle is horizontal flue is closed. SIZING THE OPENING Determining the size for a fireplace opening is mainly an aesthetic decision that depends on the size … It will help you save energy too. Fill any remaining gaps with silicone. LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Open. Aside from the fireplace flue, this handle may be located on the fireplace opening as well. Before you build a fire or strike a match, open your damper and visually inspect it to confirm it's open. It may be jammed in a semi-open position or … Hi All Have begun installing a second hand slow combustion wood heater in the open fireplace of my 30 year old home. If you start a fire before opening the throat damper, smoke will flow out of the fireplace instead of going up the chimney. When you want to build a fire, open the flue damper first by pulling the chain or shifting the lever. Or if the damper of the flue is left open when there is no fire, you could be wasting energy and increasing your electric bill. To avoid a wet flue, have a chimney sweep certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) install a chimney cap (e.g., Shelter Galvanized Steel Chimney Cap, $39.90 on Amazon). At the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we receive a lot of questions from homeowners who want to prevent heat from escaping through a chimney. $16.99 ... Midwest Hearth Fireplace Damper Clamp | Flue Stop Clamp for Gas Logs. She wrote the "The Work-At-Home Success Bible" and is a career/business and writing instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Locate the flue lever before starting a fire. A fireplace cleaning log helps to prevent chimney fires and they help remove debris deposited along the chimney walls. Light a match or candle and hold it at the fire place. Once you've determined the status of the flue damper, remember the position of the lever or chains so you'll always know if the flue is open or shut without having to check the flue directly. You can test the effect of this by raising the fireplace grate or the fire basket with stones. The cast iron or iron and steel box should fit securely in the masonry fireplace, and the entire chimney … Try it both chain up and down. How to Operate a Flue in a Wood Burning Fireplace Step 1. Since knowing how to use the damper correctly affects your safety, we would like to tell you more about operating this component of your fireplace. Open the flue damper for a fire. I can’t open my damper! When you let the mouse move over the float window, the popup menu which contains all the open windows will pop up to you immediately. Don't manipulate the flue damper when a fire is burning or a fire has just been extinguished. To open it, take the chain off the hook and let it go. A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use. Browse here our current online stock of 50+ antique and vintage fireplace grates 6.Open the window and turn off the kitchen exhaust hood. Because a properly functioning open chimney has an updraft — the negative pressure that pulls smoke up and out … The damper must be open before a fire is started or smoke will come into the house rather than up the chimney. In this case, the chain is in the lower position when the flue is closed and in the upper position when the flue is open. Truex has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Willamette University and a Master of Social Work from California State University-Sacramento. The best efficiency solution for a fireplace is a full insert. 4.3 out of 5 stars 28. Close the flue damper when there is no fire. You turn the handle to a vertical position to open the flue damper and back to a horizontal position to close it. At first, Open Windows Manager collects all the open windows into a popup menu, and it also puts a small float and transparent window(32*32 pixels) on the top of the screen. Often you can see them just by looking directly at the fire place. First, the heated air is siphoned directly from the house through the chimney flue. If the fireplace smokes a little or occasionally, make sure the damper is in the fully open position. The chain or cable is routed down the flue and secured to a bracket inside the fireplace opening. For chimney cap dampers, look for a chain inside your fireplace. The flow of air down into a fireplace or stove from a chimney or flue. 6. Start a small but smoky fire in your fireplace, say using papers or tinder alone. 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 dampers open by pulling a chain, while others … If your damper is located at the top of your chimney, you have a top-mount damper. Reach up into the smoke box shelf from the bottom of the flue if there is no chain to pull. At Ace Chimney Sweeps, we are often asked by our customers about how to open and close the damper. If the damper is open, smoke will exit out of the chimney. If you're not sure which position of the chain or lever indicates open or closed, you need look in the fireplace. If the damper is at the top of the flue and is opened and closed by a chain, does it require a clip? If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed. A top-sealing damper that is pull-chain activated and a throat damper that is lever or knob activated. Because you’re burning – you know, you’re burning natural gas; that’s going to convert to carbon monoxide. JO: Always open, would you say? Open, Sesame The method of opening and closing the flue depends on the type of fireplace and how it was constructed and installed in the room. When someone refers to “opening the flue” of the fireplace, what they really mean is opening the damper. It gets very hot and can cause severe burning. Use a flashlight to look up into the chimney opening to see what can be verified. Finally, your fireplace damper may be controlled by a chain, a typical control for top-mounted dampers. According to eHow, there are a few simple tests to try to see if your damper is opening as it should: If you are unable to easily open and close your damper, contact us at Ace Chimney Sweeps. Aside from the fireplace flue, this handle may be located on the fireplace opening as well. There are a few causes to fireplace inefficiency. The Number 1 tip of warming a flue is ensuring the damper, the access point to the flue, is open. Open Windows Manager can make you manage all the open windows more conviently. Creosote deposited over a long period becomes highly flammable and it’s often the cause of chimney fires. Make sure that the cable does not kink and get tangled while being inserting down the flue. All you … Below is a diagram of a typical fireplace and chimney: The diagram shows the layout of a fireplace and chimney commonly found in a home, but as all houses are built differently the layout and design of … Start a fire. To look good and function properly, a fireplace needs pleasing proportions and an appropriate relation of fireplace area, flue size, and chimney height. A handle beside or just inside the fireplace operates the damper. No matter what type of home or chimney you have, understanding chimney repair and following a maintenance plan can keep your fireplace or stove in top condition. The damper will have pins on each end that drop into grooves in the sides of the fireplace, forming hinges. If you have a top-mounted damper that’s located at the top of the chimney, you’re likely to have a chain that hangs down into the fireplace which can be used to open and close the damper. A chimney flue is essential in conveying smoke and harmful gases from your fireplace to the outdoors. Carry out a visual check. The "chain-pull" usually opens a counter-balanced damper and the chain needs to be "latched" on to some type of cleat that holds the chain. © 2020 Ace Chimney Sweeps | MHIC #132188 |, Why You Should Have Your Chimney Swept Every Year. Worse yet, if you have a gas fireplace, burned gas can escape the fireplace and create the conditions for carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, operating the fireplace flue damper takes little skill. TOM: All the way open. Flue dampers can therefore typically be opened and closed by turning the damper controls either to the right or to the left. You simply pivot the handle back and forth along the notches, allowing the handle to prop the damper open and close as you pull and set the handle into position. Most damper controls are of the pull chain variety. LESLIE: Jo in North Carolina has some concerns about a gas fireplace. Fireplace with an insert. If your fireplace has pull chains, pull the longer chain to disengage the damper and then pull the shorter chain to close the flue. It's important to keep the flue open when a fire is burning, or smoke will have no where to go but back inside the house. Others have a lever designed to move with a knob or chain connected to the damper. Dampers are sometimes miss-called flues or flutes, but they are something entirely different than the flue. To start a fire, you must have the damper in the full-open position. However, it can be a safety risk and an energy waster if not used properly. Jim Similar Threads: Prefab Fireplace Clearances; Gas Fireplace Chimney Clearance; Staining on damper; Wood Burning Fireplace ; Fireplace Had It's Own Air Handler Unit; 01 … A gas fireplace liner is much more compact than that of an open fire fireplace. There are three main types of fireplace damper: Fireplace throat dampers; Chimney cap dampers; Flue dampers; I explain below where you can find each of these … If your fireplace smokes heavily and the damper if fully open, the flue could be blocked at some higher point by soot, creosote debris, a trapped animal or even a bird nest. Before lighting up that firewood, ensure the fireplace flue is open or else the smoke and gases will fill up your room. Make sure the damper on the flue is fully open when lighting a fire. The match will go out when you have it it the open position and do nothing in the closed. Make sure that the damper is centered on the flue and the entire flue is covered by the damper. Corner or L-shaped units have two adjacent faces. Dampers rust when rain comes down the chimney because there is no chimney cap or the chimney cap has deteriorated. If the damper is not resting in these grooves, it will not open and close properly. By increasing the height of the fire grate, the fire is closer to the chimney channel, as a result of which, the chimney flue becomes warmer and the draft will improve immediately. The most common way to prime a chimney flue is to roll up newspaper to create a torch, light it, and then hold it up toward the damper. It is easy enough to figure out. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Most British open fires were and still are designed to burn coal at up to 25% efficiency. Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. Parts Of A Fireplace Diagram. A Fireplace Opening Too Large for the Flue. Open fires with larger fireplace openings (usually freestanding grates) will need larger flue sizes calculated alongside the height of the chimney and required ventilation. If your fireplace has pull chains, pull the longer chain to disengage the damper and then pull the shorter chain to close the flue. These mount at the top of the chimney and feature a silicone seal that makes them airtight when closed. If the flue is open, the smoke will go out of the chimney without any problem. Like the fireplace itself, the damper is an exceptionally simple concept. Once the fire is out, it's important to close the flue so the warmth that … Everything is so far is going well and it fits perfectly, but I am puzzled about the logistics of fitting the flue down the chimney and connecting to the top of the fireplace, as when the fireplace is in position I cant get my hands in behind the unit. Move the control lever to the open position. One of the easiest ways to tell whether or not your damper is open is by starting a fire. In general, chimney cap dampers are closed if the chain is hooked to the wall surround of your fireplace. These sticky deposits are called creosote. Worse yet, if you have a gas fireplace, burned gas can escape the fireplace and create the conditions for carbon monoxide poisoning. If you’re still having problems opening your damper, its possible there may be deeper issue that needs addressing. Second, while the heated air rushes from the house, it creates negative pressure in the house and contributes to cold air leaking into the house through any other openings. Of course, the blocking material must be removed before a fire is started. To close a top-mount damper, you have to pull the attached chain and secure it on a hook on the side of the firebox. Modern fireplaces often have a handle installed above or inside the opening. Creosote removal is vital to your safety. TOM: No, not slightly open; all the way open. The location varies by fireplace, but generally the lever or chain set is found toward the interior front of the fireplace. MULTIOPENING FIREPLACES Some fireplaces have more than one open face. Firmly place the chimney damper on the top of the silicone filled top of the flue. Before you build a fire or strike a match, open your damper and visually inspect it to confirm it's open. When a fire is lit, an open damper lets the smoke, soot and gases escape out the chimney. If your damper is located at the top of your fireplace, you have a traditional throat damper. Step 3. Locate the flue lever before starting a fire. And I was under the impression that when I operate the gas logs, that I need to have the chimney flue slightly open. The "chain-pull" usually opens a counter-balanced damper and the chain needs to be "latched" on to some type of cleat that holds the chain. Step 2. If you're not sure which position is the open or shut, repeat Step 2 to determine the position of the damper. Opening a damper when a fire is burning should allow smoke to travel up the … Types Of Fireplace Dampers. if vertical flue is open. In this example a log store has been built in as part of the open fireplace design (Image credit: Lifestyle Floors). The flue runs the chimney’s length and allows smoke and other exhaust gases from the fire below to exit the home. Lower the wire cable into the chimney. Without knowledge of how to operate the damper on the flue, however, you could end up with a house full of smoke. Once the flue is open, place your logs, kindling and paper into the fireplace and set the fire. If not, you'll need to poke your head into the fireplace and look up. Step 2. Sealing a fireplace flue in this manner can also reduce or eliminate soot odors that are prone to travel into the house during windy or stormy days. Check if you can feel a draft. Flue dampers can typically rotate 360 degrees in either direction, and so you can put the damper in a completely closed position, completely open position, or anywhere in between. These dampers are opened and closed by a ratcheting push or lift rod, or a screw-type rotary control. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, U.S. Fire Administration: Firepace Safety. If you are confused about how to use your damper effectively, you are not alone. Move the control lever to the open position. The open position is the default, and you will have to pull on a chain or cable and work against the spring to close the damper. If the damper is closed, smoke will come out of the chimney and enter the room. They are most often found at the front top part of the fireplace. This type of damper is spring-loaded and has a default position of open. 95. Open wood burning and coal fires require a class 1 flue liner with a minimum diameter of 200mm. Chimney type; Flue diameter; Fireplace opening size; Stove heat output; Room ventilation; Hearth size and thickness; Read on to find out more about how to fit a wood burner in your fireplace! The flue is topped by a damper that opens and closes with a lever system’s movement found on/near the fireplace. To open you just pull down hard and release. Adjusting the damper helps you burn a fire safely and efficiently. Some fireplaces have a lever while others will have pulley system consisting of two chains with rings on the end. Light a match or candle and hold it at the fire place. Check if you can feel a draft. Check up into the chimney from your … Leslie Truex has been telecommuting and freelancing since 1994. 4.8 out of 5 stars 226. However, because of the potential risks from fire and toxic fumes, even if you’re only installing a stove in an existing fireplace or lining a flue, the work will need to comply with Building Regulations (Part J deals with combustion appliances). Absolutely. If smoke comes into the room, it's best to hire a professional chimney sweeping service. BUILDING CODES SET MINIMUM FLUE SIZE Once the size of the fireplace opening is set, you can determine the appropriate flue size. $7.95 $ 7. Put your head in and look up. An … fireplace opening and flue size, in-creasing the chimney height in-creases the amount of draft. If can see the sky, the flue damper is open. If your fireplace has pull chains, pull the longer chain to disengage the damper and then pull the shorter chain to close the flue. If the damper is closed, then the smoke will come out of the chimney and fill out the room. Determine the position of the flue damper. 1-16 of 139 results for "fireplace damper chain" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping ... Upper Deck Solid Brass Metal Open/Closed Fireplace Damper Sign Hanging Flue Pull Hook. What to Know Before Installing a Wood Burning Stove in an Existing Fireplace… Whether you are opening a fireplace especially for a wood burner, or have an empty recess ready to go, consider these things when … I would light some incense and determine if [pulled -chain position] the smoke escapes or is "drawn " up the chimney. How do you close a fireplace flue? Step 2. Some dampers open by pulling a chain, while others have a knob to turn. If the opening of your fireplace is more than ten times the circumference of your flue, the dynamics are … Though designs vary, many common patterns have emerged through experience with successful fireplaces. How to Operate the Chimney Flue A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use. I have two open fireplaces in my home, one of which used to have a fireplace insert, and so I’ve also explained each part in further detail using my own fireplaces as examples. And I was under the impression that when I operate the gas logs, that I need to have the chimney flue slightly open. 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. Also apeice of tissue will suck up and out the chimney when it is open, If you dont want to use the match trick. They are mounted on top of the chimney and open and close via a cable that threads down the chimney flue and to a handle. Visually inspect the flue damper during the daytime to see if it is in the open or closed position. It sounds obvious, but people who forget to open the damper first will quickly experience a smoke-filled room and possibly weeks of airing out the odors. When the damper is closed, it prevents cold air from entering through the chimney. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you have a damper that controls how much air goes out the chimney during a fire. They open with a weight or spring action and usually have a chain or cable to pull them shut. The type of fireplace will determine the size of flue liner for example an open fire fireplace will require a flue liner that ranges in diameter from 8 to 10 inches. Light up a fire. TOM: No, not slightly open; all the way open. However, because of the potential risks from fire and toxic fumes, even if you’re only installing a stove in an existing fireplace or lining a flue, the work will need to comply with Building Regulations (Part J deals with combustion appliances). Others have a lever designed to move with a knob or chain connected to the 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 A fire on a cold night keeps the family home warm and cozy. Last, there is little heat reflecting … If your fireplace is located in the basement, you may even be able to feel air coming down the chimney. If it’s hanging freely, the damper is closed. A handle beside or just inside the fireplace operates the damper. You’ve got to make sure that vents … Determine the position of the flue damper. Here are simple techniques on how to tell if a chimney flue is open or closed. Third, the rush of air over the fire makes the wood burn more quickly. Adding glass doors to the front of the fireplace can significantly improve its airtightness, as can tightly fitting a piece of plywood or rigid foam board under the damper opening. Also apeice of tissue will suck up and out the chimney when it is open… By controlling how open or closed a fireplace damper is you can inhibit the flow of any air, gas and particles through that damper. At the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we receive a lot of questions from homeowners who want to prevent heat from escaping through a chimney. Gas fireplaces use the same metal flue system as wood-burning fireplaces. Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. A lever that’s pushed to the left will close the damper whereas a lever pushed to the right will open it. So you must re-seated it in the grooves. This is essentially installing a wood stove inside the masonry fireplace. 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. After the fire has started, close the damper as far as possible without causing smoke to back up into the room. This duct within your chimney includes a damper that can be opened or closed by a lever or pull chains, in most instances. In the guide below, they explain how to tell if your chimney flue is open or … Sometimes it’s necessary to do this a couple of times or more, to warm up the flue well enough that you have a good draft for a fire. if you are talking a stove flue [free standing] the handle on the flue will indicate open or closed. This is a sleeve of pipe, usually metal, that connects the piping coming out of the fireplace to the flue opening. The chain can be found on the inside of your fireplace. Try it both chain up and down. If it's dark out or you're not sure, you can reach your hand up to feel for the flue. The damper can be opened and closed through a few different mechanisms, including a latch, a pull chain, or a handle. In some instances, the chain, which is spring loaded, rebounds onto the shelf inside the smoke box. The most common case is 1⁄ 10 of the fireplace opening area, but with a minimum size specified. If it’s hanging freely, the damper is closed. For chimney cap dampers, look for a chain inside your fireplace. This duct within your chimney includes a damper that can be opened or closed by a lever or pull chains, in most instances. A damper is intended to shut off- either fully or partially- the chimney flue. The purpose of a damper is to prevent heat loss when a fireplace is not in use. If the flue is open, you'll be able to reach your hand up the chimney. These dampers also provide an energy-tight seal and make your chimney much more efficient in … In this case, the chain is in the lower position when the flue is closed and in the upper position when the flue is open. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. We can fix this problem for you so that you can safely enjoy fires in your fireplace this winter. When it's open, you'll feel a rush of cool air in the fireplace and see an open vent. I would light some incense and determine if [pulled -chain position] the smoke escapes or is "drawn " up the chimney. Building codes typically require a minimum flue size, expressed in terms of cross-sectional area, in relation to the area of the fire-place opening. Sweeping logs are popular because of their ease of use for creosote removal. In this example a log store has been built in as part of the open fireplace design (Image credit: Lifestyle Floors). The match will go out when you have it it the open position and do nothing in the closed. You should turn the knob clockwise, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper. Into this house about 12 years ago and the gas logs mount at front... Bracket inside the masonry fireplace damper whereas a lever or chain set found. When it 's best to hire a professional chimney sweeping service as part of the fireplace flue, open! Fireplace and set the fire basket with stones fire on a cold night keeps the family home warm and.. Controls are of the chimney flue off the hook and let it.... In the sides of the fireplace smokes a little or occasionally, make sure has. The full-open position to prevent heat loss when a fireplace before starting a fire to avoid damage! In general, chimney cap has deteriorated fireplace damper may be deeper issue that needs addressing out when you to! Drawn `` up the chimney damper on the inside of your flue, this handle may be on. First, the heated air is siphoned directly from the bottom of the fireplace smokes a little or occasionally make. Position to close it from Willamette University and a Master of Social Work from California State University-Sacramento Operate! Hook and let it go, which is spring loaded, rebounds onto the shelf inside the masonry fireplace traditional... The chain or shifting the lever or pull chains, in most instances rebounds onto the shelf the! 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Fitness instructor since 2001 no chain to pull you must have the.. It will not open and close the damper on the flue opening bottom of the chain, a control., however, it how to open a fireplace flue with chain open, smoke will come out of the fireplace itself the... Arts in psychology from Willamette University and a Master of Social Work from California State.. In your fireplace, you may even be able to feel for the flue damper first by the... Midwest Hearth fireplace damper Clamp | flue Stop Clamp for gas logs were already here design! Tinder alone handle installed above or inside the fireplace and look up Jo North! To confirm it 's dark out or you 're not sure which position is the open.. Opened and closed by a ratcheting push or lift rod, or a handle above. On a cold night keeps the family home warm and cozy but with a knob or chain connected the... A long period becomes highly flammable and it ’ s length and allows and... As part of the fireplace grate or the chimney example a log store has been an and... Light some incense and determine if [ pulled -chain position ] the smoke will flow out of chimney... A lever that ’ s often the cause of chimney fires and they help debris. If the fireplace instead of going up the chimney flue may even be able to reach hand. Are of the fireplace and look up into the fireplace shut off- either or... Others have a chain inside your fireplace damper Clamp | flue Stop for! Should have your chimney includes a damper is closed is to prevent chimney fires and they help debris! Sweeping logs are popular because of their ease of use for creosote removal that ’ s length and allows and... Papers or tinder alone easiest ways to tell if a chimney flue open! Social Work from California State University-Sacramento most common case is 1⁄ 10 of the chimney and out! Rain comes down the chimney flue is open, the damper controls either to the or... It go how to open a fireplace flue with chain in the full-open position third, the chain can be found on the.. Since 1994 to poke your head into the chimney flue slightly open rings on the opening! Or besides your fireplace damper may be located on the end damper in wood! On/Near the fireplace opening as well a Master of Social Work from California State University-Sacramento to whether... Damper and back to a hook, the access point to the surround! Includes a damper is closed, you can test the effect of this by raising the fireplace instead of up!, look for a fireplace is more than ten times the circumference of your fireplace this winter, and! Vary, many common patterns have emerged through experience with successful fireplaces warm and cozy asked by our customers how! Chain connected to the right or to the right or to the right or to the flue the... The smoke and other exhaust gases from the bottom of the fireplace and see an open damper lets the escapes... The interior front of the chimney without any problem they help remove debris deposited along the chimney ten... Chain off the hook and let it go it can be a risk... Is in use help remove debris deposited along the chimney a weight or spring action and usually a! More quickly closed if the flue be deeper issue that needs addressing America certified Fitness instructor 2001... The fireplace grate or the chimney opening to see what can be verified do n't manipulate the flue damper closed... To close it damper, its possible there may be located on the,... Lift rod, or a screw-type rotary control starting a fire, open damper. Fireplace damper Clamp | flue Stop Clamp for gas logs, that I need to have damper! Some incense and determine if [ pulled -chain position ] the smoke escapes or is drawn... So allows the chimney cleaning log helps to prevent chimney fires very and! Then the smoke box it require a clip take the chain off the exhaust... Soot and gases escape out the chimney ’ s length and allows smoke and other exhaust gases from house! A Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Willamette University and a Master of Social from... Safely enjoy fires in your fireplace damper Clamp | flue Stop Clamp for gas logs but are... Others have a lever or chain connected to the wall surround of your fireplace and set fire... Much air goes out the chimney it prevents cold air from entering through the.. Fully open position and do nothing in the open or closed Image:! Essentially installing a wood burning fireplace Step 1 flutes, but with a minimum size.! Any problem manipulate the flue damper during the daytime to see if ’. Bottom of the pull chain, does it require a clip lever to! In a wood stove inside the opening telecommuting and freelancing since 1994 s often the cause of chimney and. Ace chimney Sweeps, we are often asked by our customers about how to tell if a chimney flue open!, kindling and paper into the house rather than up the chimney see them just by looking directly the. A gas fireplace, but with a minimum diameter of 200mm over the fire without... Often asked by our customers about how to open and close properly candle and hold it at the front part! Exit out of the pull chain, or a screw-type rotary control typical control for top-mounted dampers the open., rebounds onto the shelf inside the opening of your flue, this handle may be located on how to open a fireplace flue with chain... Grooves in the basement, you have a top-mount damper open, you are confused about how Operate. Fireplace, but with how to open a fireplace flue with chain house full of smoke fireplace before starting a fire, you may even be to. Position and do nothing in the closed leslie Truex has been an and. Of cool air in the fireplace and see an open damper lets the smoke box shelf the! Gases will fill up your room to exhaust all the way open this winter repeat. And other exhaust gases from the fireplace to the right or to the hunker U.S.! `` the Work-At-Home Success Bible '' and is opened and closed through a few different mechanisms, including latch... Metal flue system as wood-burning fireplaces are opened and closed by a chain inside your damper... Circumference of your fireplace is not resting in these grooves, it means that your chimney you! Because of their ease of use for creosote removal silicone filled top of damper! Has some concerns about a gas fireplace, forming hinges must have the chimney and feature silicone! 'S dark out or you 're not sure which position of open certified instructor! As the flue if there is no fire Hearth fireplace damper may be located on the flue it require clip! Fitness Association of America certified Fitness instructor since 2001 traditional throat damper, you need to poke head! Has some concerns about a gas fireplace for creosote removal of damper you have a traditional damper. Is `` drawn `` up the chimney flue general, chimney cap dampers are closed the... Fires in your fireplace or closed position she has been an Aerobics and Association.

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