Doing so allows the chimney to exhaust all the smoke that is created by the fire, without losing all the heat. How your damper is controlled depends on the type of damper your chimney has. $4.48 shipping. We welcome your comments and Other options New Some factors may affect the warming of the flue. damper should be in the open position to allow smoke to escape up the fireplace flue and out the chimney. Chimney Rebuilding vs. Re-Pointing: What’s the Difference? If you see closed metal or ceramic slats, you know it needs to be opened. The flame may need more or less oxygen. If the damper sits right above the fireplace, it is a traditional throat damper. If you can see the sky, it is open. It can be operated by a very convenient remote control. When you aren’t using your fireplace, it prevents drafts and keeps heated/cooled air inside your house from escaping up the chimney. damper control 2) The use of any component part not manilfactured or ap- proved by Marco in combination witti a Marc0 fireplace system. If your chimney has a top-mounted damper, it will be controlled by a metal chain. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Here’s what you can expect a throat damper to look like: Unless you have a vent-free fireplace, the first step you should take before lighting a fire in a wood-burning fireplace or gas fireplace is to open the damper. How to Build the Perfect Fireplace Fire ... How to Build the Perfect Fireplace Fire Every Time. the first step you should take before lighting a fire in a wood-burning fireplace or gas fireplace is to open the damper. Replacing a fireplace damper by yourself is possible, and you can save yourself some serious money by foregoing professional consulta… How to use the fireplace damper … When you aren’t using your fireplace, it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. The damper resumes the duty of protecting the house from the cold air outside. Broken or damaged dampers can make your fireplace and chimney a hazard, especially if an immense amount of soot has been left to build up or if your damper has water damage. During the preparation to start a fire, the damper should be completely opened. If you can’t see the handle or chain that opens and closes the damper, use a flashlight and look up inside the chimney flue. Throat dampers typically have a rod that you push or lift to adjust the position of the damper (circled below): Some chimneys have a knob that rotates a rod to adjust the damper. 95. $19.99 $ 19. The damper remains either completely or at least partly open during the burning of the fire. It also allows fresh air to come in to feed the fire. When you’re not using the fireplace, the damper should be closed. 4 Common Problems with Basement Fireplaces, Schedule Chimney Sweeping Early to Beat the Fall Rush. PRINT FRIENDLY PDF • Complete with cast iron valve plate and 5 position poker control detached and bolted to body • Most commonly used standard fireplace damper design • Coated with black corrosion-resistant paint. I have a fireplace that I have not used but am remodeling and hope to. If a damper is not opened when a fire is built, smoke will back up quickly and fill the room. A closed damper also stops cold drafts from coming down the chimney. If you don’t feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed. It’s important to know how to set your fireplace damper when lighting a fire. These knobs are generally found on the exterior of the fireplace, usually centered above the fireplace opening, but sometimes off to the side. The only time the damper should stay completely closed is when the fireplace is not being used. This can warp and damage the fireplace damper, thus needing replacement. A damper that is closer to the firebox will stay warmer, even closer to room temperature, and will not need to be warmed up prior to lighting the fire. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. These are usually operated with a push/lift rod (poker damper) or some type of rotary control. If you’re having a problem with your fireplace damper, give us a call! If your chimney has a traditional damper, all you need to do is shine a flashlight up the chimney. A properly set damper means the difference between a bright, chill-chasing fire and a room full of smoke. Using a piece of wood or several sheets of newspaper rolled into a cone, light the end, then wave the flame slowly underneath the flue for five or ten minutes. Filling your living with smoke isn’t the best way to find out that the fireplace damper is closed. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. It is the vent at the top of the firebox that opens to allow oxygen from outside to feed the fire and smoke to vent outside. 3) Ir~stallalion other tliaii as instructed in this manual 4) The use of a fireplace insert or other products not specified for use with this fireplace. You shouldn’t use your fireplace until the problem is solved to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Knowing how to tell if the flue is open in your wood stove or fireplace can help retain the heat needed in your home. If can see the sky, the flue damper is open. Knowing where the damper is located helps homeowners start sufficient fires without filling their homes with smoke first. You should turn the knob clockwise, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper. American Heritage Fireplace was established by combining extensive expertise in the hearth products industry with technical skills of the trade. Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace. This will prevent the heated air from escaping through the chimney and will keep water and other debris out of the flue. We've got conventional replacement fireplace dampers, chimney top dampers and components. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. The damper should only be closed after the fire is completely out, which may take up to another full day for the embers to go cold. The damper resumes the duty of protecting the house from the cold air outside. It burns the most BTU’s of gas during operation in … To start a fire, you must have the damper in the full-open position. Because fireplace repair often requires specialized tools, casual users are often unable to return the damper to its correct position. This opens and shuts the damper. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. A damper is a small mechanism that is built into your fireplace that is designed to seal up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. The damper is part of the entire fireplace system that works together to burn warm fires and allow the smoke to exit the house. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. View our Privacy Policy here. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. You have a traditional throat damper as the damper must be in the fireplace damper can be operated a. 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