Fireplace Flue Damper Won T Close

A flue directs smoke outside of a home when a fireplace is in use.

Fireplace flue damper won t close. After years of constant exposure to heat ashes and moisture many fireplace dampers will become stuck warped or inefficient. Cevans chuck evans cmi trec 7657 september 6 2017 1 59pm. Top dampers fit more tightly than most throat dampers. Fireplace damper won t open or close.

Fireplace dampers can be subject to intense heat from fires and also have to deal with any smoke soot and ash that pass through them. A drafty room is a good indication that the damper isn t closing into the proper position. The damper is a steel or cast iron door that opens and closes the throat of the firebox into the flue. Finally if the damper is missing replace it with a top damper so called because it installs at the top of the chimney.

Traditionally there are two different types of fireplace dampers. Any damper that requires extra work to move is considered nonoperational and should be repaired. A cable running down the chimney to the firebox allows you to open and close the damper. 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.

A throat damper which is the most common is located just above the firebox inside of the chimney flue. To be up to code all fireplaces must have a damper. How to close the chimney flue. They also come into contact and help stop any moisture or rainwater than makes its way down into the chimney or flue.

This duct within your chimney includes a damper that can be opened or closed by a lever or pull. The damper won t close tightly an open damper is the equivalent of an open window in the house allowing all the cold inside and the heat to escape outside. 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. A functional damper opens and closes easily just by using the handle or lever.