[email protected] But when you aren’t using your fireplace, leaving the damper open can allow warmth out and cold air in. It can be opened or closed with a lever in order to seal off the fireplace from the rest of the chimney. Per uniform building code requirements, when there is gas plumbed to a fireplace a damper clamp must be installed to keep your damper from closing. It’s not unusual to find that the handle that opens and closes the damper is stuck. So you’ve checked your pilot light and even reset it, but still, it wont stay lit. If you light a fire, smoke will flow out of the fireplace into the room, if the damper is closed. The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times, you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home. Burnie Fireplace Services Knowing how to use a fireplace damper properly can save money on your utility bills and keep your home safe. If you have gas logs (or decorative glass, rocks, etc.) The fireplace damper is meant to be opened before you use your fireplace each time, and closed shortly afterwards. So you must re-seated it in the grooves. Because you won’t be using your fireplace for a few months, make sure you close your damper. To begin with, if the handle of the stuck fireplace damper is broken, there are replacement damper handles for both fireplace throat dampers and chimney top-sealing dampers. Sometimes they offer special summer rates when their workload is slow. Doesn't seem right to me. The fireplace damper is an important part of keeping your home warm and saving energy. It should be spinning at 3000 RPM. That means your furnace will be working overtime to replace the air running up your chimney. The Fix: Pilot Light to Gas Fireplace Won’t Stay Lit. Make sure you use a protective metal screen to shield your hearth from sparks or embers whenever the fire place is in use.  =  Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lay 4-mil plastic sheeting on the floor in front of the fireplace and tape some to the sides of the fireplace. Sometimes the damper blade is lined with metal tabs that fit into slots or holes in the flue when closed. However, most throat dampers allow some heat to go up the chimney. Your Fireplace Accessories and Chimney Caps Headquarters. Home; Company; Services; Store; F.A.Q. Wood Stove Damper Not Working. Have old Buck insert that the damper won’t close. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. A damper must be in one piece that … However, some people still feel that there is time to wait to call for a chimney technician’s services to if they notice a fireplace damper is broken. The fireplace damper is meant to be opened before you use your fireplace each time, and closed shortly afterwards. Welcome to My flue/damper won't work/close. When not writing for FireplaceMall.com, she can often be found by a fireplace with a book in hand. Even if your fireplace isn’t on fire, it’s still designed to keep the cold from coming down the chimney. Over time these dampers and the control handles can rust making them difficult to open. Replace the damper plate opener. }. If the prior two steps don’t cure the stuck damper handle, tap the handle with a sledge hammer after applying. Therefore, if your wood stove isn’t drawing, ensure that the damper is wide open before lighting a fire in your stove, and ensure that it isn’t closed down by too much during a fire . Hook it up and watch the impeller spin. The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. If the whole throat damper has rusted through, you need to replace the throat damper (which includes the damper plate.). A drafty room is a good indication that the damper isn’t closing into the proper position. Welcome to My flue/damper won't work/close. A damper can be closed when the stove isn’t in use to help with heat loss from a home, but needs to be fully open prior to starting a fire. During Atlanta’s hottest months, closing your fireplace damper will help your home stay cool and keep chimney odors out. If a lot of smoke it staying in the room, it is a sign that you need to open the damper more. A wood stove damper will typically be located within the stove pipe just above the stove. If you suspect a jam, it’s best to let a chimney sweep clear it. When closing damper over night it builds up and only takes a little to have smoke back up into house, also damp/snowy wood will cause it to build up. The Damper won’t Close Tightly. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. Seems like the damper should close all the way to get the best secondary burn results. There are several issues that might prevent a gas fireplace from igniting. two It will also keep it lubricated so  it opens and closes easily. I did a bit of Google investigating and found that it may be code to have the damper locked in the open position on a gas fireplace. The location varies by fireplace, but generally the lever or chain set is found toward the interior front of the fireplace. (If the damper handle is not stuck, but you just aren’t sure how to open or close the damper, click here for directions.). Poker Damper. Hate to have someone come out to fix it ( pay them that is ). | San Diego Chimney Sweep & Prefabricated Fireplace Specialists, For more great reviews, view the full Burnie Fireplace Services Yelp Page. If you’ve tried cleaning and adjusting the plate but the damper still won’t open, head over to your local hardware store with your old opener and get a new one. Hi all, I was cleaning the 10+ years of dust that the previous owner let accumulate on my fireplace and noticed that the damper was open. When you have an active flame going, you want to leave the damper open so the smoke can escape through the flue. (You can remove most steel plate throat dampers by detaching the damper handle and then lifting the damper out of the grooves.) This can warp and damage the fireplace damper, thus needing replacement. If the damper still refuses to budge, use a rust- and corrosion-cutting oil such as WD-40 to help dissolve the rust and corrosion at the damper’s hinges. It also lets you burn a fire in your fireplace safely without filling your home with smoke and odors. Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. Fireplace smoke in the house can be a real damper … to the part of the handle that is inside the fireplace. Your email address will not be published. If you’ve tried cleaning and adjusting the plate but the damper still won’t open, head over to your local hardware store with your old opener and get a new one. A fireplace damper is a metal plate located at the top of your chimney’s firebox. Another issue with these dampers is that the door needs to push up in order to open. First, brush the damper, giving special attention to the hinges. Dampers rust when rain comes down the chimney because there is no chimney cap or the chimney cap has deteriorated. To ensure complete satisfaction of your Vermont Castings fireplace, we’ve put together an extensive list of common questions to provide you with the information you need to guarantee proper and safe product operation at all times. Typically, this will free the rusted plate. I'm wondering if this is the way it is supposed to be. This can be an indication that your fireplace thermocouple is either bad or worn out. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. If the damper is not resting in these grooves, it will not open and close properly. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Look up inside the fireplace with a flashlight. Your email address will not be published. The damper will have pins on each end that drop into grooves in the sides of the fireplace, forming hinges. Put on goggles and a dust mask. Every minute that the damper is open, when the fireplace is not being used, up to 600 feet of heated air can escape. Tips; Contact; My flue/damper won’t work/close. You can have a chimney sweep clean the damper area, or you can do it yourself. An open chimney damper will allow air into your home, so if it’s a cold night and you just can’t seem to warm up, make sure that your chimney damper is closed. Therefore, they pay for themselves in energy savings by keeping heated air inside the home. Most fireplace dampers come standard with a lever opener, meaning you push a lever inside the fireplace with a fire iron to open the damper. The most likely cause of a stuck fireplace damper is a build-up of rust, soot, and creosote on the hinges of the damper. Required fields are marked *. Hi all, I was cleaning the 10+ years of dust that the previous owner let accumulate on my fireplace and noticed that the damper was open. Like we said before, when your fireplace isn’t in use, your chimney damper still has a job to do. The WD actually stands for water dispersal. A fireplace damper is an adjustable steel flap that keeps more or less heat in your home, depending on how open or closed it is. The closed damper also protects from water and debris. An Inactive Fireplace. Without a damper, the chimney is a gaping hole sucking warm air (and heating dollars) out into the cold. If you light a fire, smoke will flow out of the fireplace into the room, if the damper is closed. If the gas line is capped off and no log lighter is installed, then is permitted to be functional. It should always be open when your fireplace is in use to allow air from outside to feed the fire and combustion byproducts, like smoke and carbon monoxide, to escape. Will it burn off? Look for evidence that the damper is jammed by debris, nests, or dead animals that have fallen into the chimney. You can also subscribe without commenting. I did a bit of Google investigating and found that it may be code to have the damper locked in the open position on a gas fireplace. Per uniform building code requirements, when there is gas plumbed to a fireplace a damper clamp must be installed to keep your damper from closing. If fire started below, or directly in dampner. If the gas line is capped off and no log lighter is installed, then is permitted to be functional. Dampers. Another common problem with dampers is that they become stuck or frozen into position. Why Won’t My Gas Fireplace Start? When the damper is operational, work it back and forth while applying a high-temperature lubricant at all the joints and moving parts. This can warp and damage the fireplace damper, thus needing replacement. https://www.fireplacemall.com/blog/2014/02/fix-stuck-fireplace-damper 4. A chimney sweep has the equipment to clear the jam safely. Close it when it's not it use. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! Website design & Development by kikaDESIGN. Doing so will keep some of the warm air from your heating system from escaping up the chimney. Can’t get to the creosote as opening too small. You’ll need safety goggles, a disposable dust mask or respirator and a wire brush. Therefore, if your wood stove isn’t drawing, ensure that the damper is wide open before lighting a fire in your stove, and ensure that it isn’t closed … In such cases, lubrication can be helpful. Replacing a fireplace damper by yourself is possible, and you can save yourself some serious money by foregoing professional consultat… Put on old clothes or a disposable paper suit, and a hat. Shop around for the best deal. Soot and creosote can build up from the normal use of the fireplace. Once you're able to open the damper, remove any debris that has fallen on top of the damper. Any help would be appreciated….Ron. Top dampers fit more tightly than most throat dampers. A damper should always be fully opened when starting a fire or adding wood to the stove, allowing the firebox to draw the most air. It always needs to be at least a little open when a fire is going to maintain draft and let the smoke leave through the chimney. The Fix: Pilot Light to Gas Fireplace Won’t Stay Lit. (858) 513-3915 These dampers are open by lifting the handle up, pushing the damper upwards, and pinning the damper in the upward position by setting one of the notches on the handle onto the mounted ratchet on the frame of the fireplace. Bird and bat droppings can contain bacteria that are extremely dangerous to humans. Here are some potential causes: Old Batteries: Depending on the type of gas fireplace you own, you may have a remote or receiver that run on batteries. When properly installed, dampers create an airtight seal that prevents airflow between the chimney and the rest of the house. If there is a return air vent in the same room as the fireplace check to make sure the … I have attached a picture of the front. Put on goggles and a dust mask. When to Close Fireplace Damper. So you’ve checked your pilot light and even reset it, but still, it wont stay lit. Our expert staff is standing by to answer your questions. Keep your damper open whenever the fireplace is in use. Close it when it's not it use. I tried to close it but the lever won't budge. A lot of times the damper handle is rusted open or closed. If your damper is unable to open all the way or won’t open at all, you’ll experience fireplace smoke in the house whenever you have a fire. The damper is a vent inside the throat of a fireplace. Replacing your damper will not only get rid of smoke entering your home, but it’ll make your home more energy efficient. It’s not unusual to find that the handle that opens and closes the damper is stuck. .hide-if-no-js { Susan shares ways to make homes, especially those with fireplaces, renewing spaces for families. That some thing came back to haunt him and he was called the next day as soon as it was day light! To check this take the combustion blower out of the stove and look at it. WD-40 was first used to prevent rust on the Atlas missile in the 1950. A damper must be in one piece that is snug to the flue in order for it to work properly. The damper retains heat that escapes up the chimney or flue. A damper is simply a round piece of metal located within the flue. This can be an indication that your fireplace thermocouple is either bad or worn out. Creosote underneath has pushed the plate uo so edge hits plate. Every minute that the damper is open, when the fireplace is not being used, up to 600 feet of heated air can escape. © 2006 — 2021 | All Rights Reserved. When the Damper Won’t Open +  No part of this site may be copied, duplicated, or replicated without written consent. Closing the damper restricts the airflow, releasing exhaust smoke and heat. Regardless of the type of damper, the basic purpose is the same. 3. If the steel plate in the throat damper is too rusted, you need just a replacement damper plate. Spray WD-40 on your chimney damper to protect it from rust. When I put the damper down (the closed position for secondary burn), the damper doesn't close all the way. Replace the damper plate opener. Once you have the damper opening and closing easily. A conventional masonry fireplace damper that is located right above the firebox is almost always made out of cast-iron. We certainly identify with your DIY mindset. Tips; Contact; Home; Company; Services; Store; F.A.Q. (If the damper handle is not stuck, but you just aren’t sure how to open or close the damper, click here for directions.) | San Diego Chimney Sweep & Prefabricated Fireplace Specialists. An open damper is the equivalent of an open window in the house, allowing all the cold inside and the heat to escape outside. Allow the oil to stand for a few minutes and then gently tap the plate and the handle with a hammer or similar object. When it had been cleaned the time before, the guy was in a hurry and missed something. Dampers are common on older, less efficient, models of stoves where the draft needs to be adjusted to help make the fires more efficient. Finally, if the damper is missing, replace it with a top damper, so called because it installs at the top of the chimney. The ability to shut the damper and seal off the fireplace is much more energy-efficient. It allows this heat to dissipate into the area being heated by the woodstove. Over time, the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature. Make sure to close the damper whenever your fireplace is not in use! It does not take much, our pipe is about 21' tall, we get about coffee can of soot/creosote a cleaning every time it backs up we run our Fisher 24hr a day in use since 1978. If the impeller is packed with creosote it isn’t able to give the fire enough air and you won’t get a good clean burn. A damper can be closed when the stove isn’t in use to help with heat loss from a home, but needs to be fully open prior to starting a fire. However, it is your home and your life at risk, so it is worth talking with certified chimney sweeps in your area. Last updated by Susan at October 4, 2018. If the step above doesn’t work, you will need to clean the track that the handle runs in and the point where it is attached to the damper. Turned out there was a hunk of crap up top, that fell down just enough to plug it by the damper and worse with the damper pretty well closed already. You can also bench test your combustion blower. I tried to close it but the lever won't budge. 2. When the Damper Won’t Open Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire. However, some people still feel that there is time to wait to call for a chimney technician’s services to if they notice a fireplace damper is broken. A cable running down the chimney to the firebox allows you to open and close the damper. This kind damper, Poker dampers, we commonly refer to as a banana handles.This is because of the banana shape arch in the handle. Another common problem with dampers is that they become stuck or frozen into position. installed in your fireplace, this is not an uncommon problem. If you have gas logs (or decorative glass, rocks, etc.) display: none !important; There is a 3/8 inch gap at the top. Close the throat damper after the fire has cooled completely. If the damper cracks while being rapidly heating and cooling, it will no longer work properly. Not being able to open your throat damper makes your fireplace unusable. Most fireplace dampers come standard with a lever opener, meaning you push a lever inside the fireplace with a fire iron to open the damper.

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