Chimney Flue Damper Operation

A chimney top replacement damper is typically a hinged metal door installed at the top of the chimney working from the rooftop.

Chimney flue damper operation.

When you aren t using your fireplace it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. It can be opened or closed manually to control the amount of air that is allowed to pass through. When you are using your fireplace it needs to be open so that smoke can vent outside.

If your damper is located at the top of your chimney you have a top mount damper. If your damper is located at the top of your fireplace you have a traditional throat damper. The amount of air a fire has to breathe has a large impact on how large it can grow and how long it lasts. Unlike the firebox and the chimney which only serve a purpose when you ve got a roaring fire going the damper plays an important role when the fireplace is both active and inactive.

When the fireplace is in use an open damper prevents smoke from filling up your home by giving it a way out through the flue. These dampers are opened and closed by a ratcheting push or lift rod or a screw type rotary control. This type of damper is spring loaded and has a default position of open. Open the flue damper for a fire.

The damper is often a small metal flap located inside the fireplace flue. A closed damper also stops cold drafts from coming down the chimney. When you want to build a fire open the flue damper first by pulling the chain or shifting the lever.