Are You Using Your Chimney Damper Correctly?

A fireplace damper is an important part of the success of a warm glowing fire. Knowing how to use it correctly may be a concern to some homeowners. If the damper is working correctly, it should keep your home warm while pushing toxic smoke outside. Regular chimney inspection is key to ensuring the damper operates safely.

You will find a damper in every fireplace. It is a mechanism that you control manually to control the airflow and the smoke through the chimney flue. When the damper is closed it covers the opening so that the warm air stays in your home and doesn’t escape up the chimney. When the damper is opened, it allows the toxic carbon monoxide to exit the flue and up the chimney to escape the house.

There are many different types of dampers. You should become aware of what type you have as they all are controlled differently.

Top-Sealing

The top-sealing damper is also known as the chimney cap damper due to its placement. The top-sealing damper is located at the top of the chimney. Being located there helps to prevent small animals, debris, and water from entering the chimney. To open and close the damper you would use a steel cable that comes down the chimney that is attached to the spring-loaded door. This type of damper is easier to access than the throat due to its ease of opening and closing. Along with the location of the cable.

Throat Damper

The most popular dampers are either the Throat damper which is a cast iron or steel handle that opens the plate that covers the opening between the flue and the firebox. The throat damper comes in three different styles. The poker, rotary, and the pivot.

• The poker damper has a handle shaped like a banana. You adjust the damper as needed latching onto a groove that allows different ventilation.
• The rotary type is adjusted by a key on the side of the fireplace. You turn the key until the damper is adjusted as needed.
• The last is the pivot damper. Similar to the poker type, however, more complex as it has notches rather than grooves. It is shaped similarly, and you would adjust the same with a push or pull action to open and close the damper.

Open or Closed

Once you become more used to your fireplace and the benefits of the damper you may want to adjust this for airflow etc. Our technicians will be more than happy to discuss this with you. Mainly when you have a fire in the fireplace you will keep the damper open. When the fire has died down and cooled, you will want to close the damper. This will keep the warm air in the house and the cold air out.

Contact Us Today!

Contact us at Guardian Chimney Sweep for some good suggestions as to damper adjustment. We are only a call away.

When you are ready to make your appointment for a chimney sweep or inspection, call Guardian Chimney Sweep. We strive to provide expert services. We provide professional chimney sweep, chimney cleanings, chimney inspections, and chimney repairs. As well as fireplace inserts, gas logs, chimney rebuilds, and more. We provide these to our customers with low-cost, reliable service in a timely fashion.