Fireplace Damper Chain Open Or Closed

Top mount dampers use a spring loaded design.

Fireplace damper chain open or closed.

If the chain is tightly attached to a hook the damper is closed. Chimney top and throat. Often a damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position. The damper is a steel or cast iron door that opens and closes the throat of the firebox into the flue.

However before you use your fireplace it s important that you understand how to operate it properly. It also creates a draft of the air necessary for this to happen. 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. Fireplaces are constructed fairly simply.

If it has then the damper is jammed in the open position. The damper can be opened and closed through a few different mechanisms including a latch a pull chain or a handle. It s why so many of us prioritize purchasing homes with fireplaces in them. Aside from the fireplace flue this handle may be located on the fireplace opening as well.

Throat dampers sit lower in the flue just above the firebox. For chimney cap dampers look for a chain inside your fireplace. If the chain or handle isn t firmly secured in the bracket the damper is open. If it s hanging freely the damper is closed.

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. 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. To open it take the chain off the hook and let it go. 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.

They usually feature mesh guards to keep critters out of your flue and a leak proof gasket to keep moisture at bay. 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. Fireplace dampers are typically made of metal or ceramic so they can tolerate the heat of the fire without suffering damage. An open damper allows smoke to exit the chimney rather than backing up into the house.

In general chimney cap dampers are closed if the chain is hooked to the wall surround of your fireplace. Fireplace dampers come in two main types. One key aspect of this is understanding when your dampers are open and when they re closed. After you ve opened the damper you should feel air coming down the chimney.