Fireplace Damper Chain Open Or Closed

If the chain or handle isn t firmly secured in the bracket the damper is open.

Fireplace damper chain open or closed.

They remain open until you pull a chain or handle usually mounted on the side of the firebox to close them and secure the mechanism to keep the damper closed. It s why so many of us prioritize purchasing homes with fireplaces in them. One of the most pervasive causes of a stuck damper is rust often caused when rainwater enters the chimney through a faulty or nonexistent chimney cap. After you ve opened the damper you should feel air coming down the chimney.

To verify that take a mirror and hold it in the fireplace and look and see if you can see the sky above if you can then it is jammed in. Top mount dampers use a spring loaded design. Chimney top and throat. They usually feature mesh guards to keep critters out of your flue and a leak proof gasket to keep moisture at bay.

An open damper allows smoke to exit the chimney rather than backing up into the house. The damper is a steel or cast iron door that opens and closes the throat of the firebox into the flue. If it s hanging freely the damper is closed. If you don t feel any air coming down the chimney or if you ve opened the damper but your fireplace is still smoking you should contact a chimney specialist.

You should feel the chain spring up as the damper opens. Chimney top dampers sit at the top of the chimney with a chain and lever to open and close it. Throat dampers sit lower in the flue just above the firebox. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook the damper is closed.

For chimney cap dampers look for a chain inside your fireplace. However before you use your fireplace it s important that you understand how to operate it properly. If it has then the damper is jammed in the open position. Dampers are made to close tightly when you aren t using your fireplace in order to prevent air exchange between the inside and outside of your home.

Fireplace dampers come in two main types. Often a damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position. Fireplaces are constructed fairly simply. A fireplace damper is a device that can be manually opened or closed with the purpose of allowing gases and other byproducts from a fireplace to be safely vented from a building when open but to also prevent air from escaping the building when a fireplace isn t being used.

Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. It also creates a draft of the air necessary for this to happen. The damper can be opened and closed through a few different mechanisms including a latch a pull chain or a handle. One key aspect of this is understanding when your dampers are open and when they re closed.