Need to get a handle on your fireplace damper? CSIA can help!
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- Опубліковано 14 гру 2014
- We want to help you get a handle on your damper, one of the most misunderstood features of your fireplace, but so vital. If the damper is not functioning correctly or if it's closed, you've got a situation on your hands that may lead to a smoky room at best and a fire hazard at worst. The damper is a hinged metal plate or valve used to seal the fireplace when it is not in use. This video features us getting a handle on five different types of dampers,
This video is one of the best I've seen on this commonly misunderstood device. The wide range of actual dampers, in different configurations, is very useful for noobs who have never considered more than one way to do it.
This was so helpful, thank you so much!
Thanks for the video. I'm looking to update my fireplace by installing marble over the brick but unsure of what to do with my rotary damper control. Would you recommend somehow changing the damper open/close mechanism to something else like a poker (if this is even possible using my existing damper) or is there a way to pull out the knob/rod and just reinstall it after the marble is installed?
What is damper #1 called? Mines rusted shut and trying to find how to remove it to replace.
Thank you for the video. I do have a question. At 1:40 (damper example #4), if the opening is not wide enough to allow an insulated 6 inch pipe through... what do you do? And, presuming you do make it through the opening what kind of top plate (not even sure if that's the correct term) do you use to seal off the fireplace from the chimney? Sorry is this is a serious noob question. :)
When I read the title "get a handle on your damper" I was hoping you would show me how to connect a handle to the lever so I could adjust the damper while the fire is burning. Do they make it fully open/fully closed for safety reasons? Is the manufacturer afraid it will "fall closed" while burning? I want it to lose less heat out the chimney.
I have damper 4 traditional for masonry fireplace. The handle came off due perhaps to rust. How do I replace the handle?
In example #1 at the 41 second mark, there are 3 tubes just below the damper. What are those tubes? I have almost an exact fireplace. I was hoping these were vents that heat up and I can run a fan to blow hot air out the front/top part of the chimeny fire box. Right now thats all closed by brick.
Hello. Thanks for doing this video. I know I am resurrecting an old video, but I am interested in the first firebox. I have the exact same one in my house, installed in 1974 when my parents build this place. I would like to know more about how that box is constructed as mine is behind quite the masonry structure. Are the walls single or double? What thickness/gauge? Hot rolled? Are there any adapters to allow better control of the damper other than open/closed?
If you have any pictures of the appliance you filmed in this video, please message me. Thanks in advance.
Edmonchuck
I know this is 2 years late, but I have the same fireplace. Some people call it a heatillator, but it's actually made by Heatform ltd. It's constructed of 1/4" boiler plate. Two layers of boiler plate with space between for air flow. They commonly have two fans, one on each side, blowing cool air from the room, around the fire box, then up and over the top exiting above the doors into the room.
I have the second style damper, but I also have a small lever over top of back wall. What is the 2nd lever for?
this lever is used to loosen the back wall of the firebox ceramic walls.
What do you call example number 3?
Great Video! Could you please tell me where I can buy the last damper shown? The one mounted on the top of the chimney with the mesh box to prevent squirrels and birds and rain from getting inside the chimney.
You'll need to check with your local Certified Chimney Sweep®. Most manufacturers do not sell direct.
Chimney Safety Institute of America thank you.
Hello! the handle on our damper (looks just like example no.3 in your video) is broken. Where can we order a replacement online? Great video for those of us who know nothing about fireplaces :-)
You'll need to check with your local Certified Chimney Sweep®. Most manufacturers do not sell direct. Find one near you using our zip code locator on www.csia.org.
hi i just moved to a condo with a fireplace. and everytime i push the lever up and down the valve never opens i hear the noise the metal makes and it doesnt feel like itsnot attached. but when i use a flash light to see up there the valve never opens at all. can u gie me some advice
I have example #1 do I need to leave it fully open every time?
We just bought a house that has something similar to #1, I hate to leave it fully open once the fire is going, but have not found a way to partially close it and have it stay in place. Balancing it part way seems risky, wondering if I can retrofit it with a toothed handle of some sort and bracket to hold it, but there is a cross member welded all the way across that the current one pivots on, so would have to cut that out most likely and either bolt on or weld on the bracket somehow. Hope you find an answer, as with mine fully open, it definitely sucks most of heat up the chimney and burns through wood much quicker.
What I found out with experimenting is open fully and have air conditioning to “fan or vent” the heat will circulate very well and yes open damper fully
My damper wont seem to stay shut. It's a manufactured type of fireplace. What would you suggest I look at replacing? My thoughts are that it's the spring but I'm not quite sure where to start with the replacement part...
Thank you so much for a fast response. I will definitely check out the link and get someone out (other than the inspector) to look at it.
My damper has a hole in it
Masonry chimneys should not even be built anymore! Metal is the way to go!