How do you fix a rusty damper?

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. When the damper is operational, work it back and forth while applying a high-temperature lubricant at all the joints and moving parts.

How do I close my fireplace damper?

To open or close the damper, lift the handle and push or pull to move the damper to the desired position. Replace the handle when the damper is in place.

What happens if you leave damper open?

Leaving your damper open during the summer forces your air conditioner to work harder in order to compensate for the incoming warm air. This causes an uneccessary spike in your utility bills, and if your HVAC system is old and overworked, might even force you to pay for a repair or replacement.

What happens if you leave the chimney flue open?

A fireplace damper should always be kept open while the fire is burning. Furthermore, keep the damper open until all the embers are done burning. By leaving the damper open, heat is being lost as warm air is being pulled through a hole in your living room (the chimney) all the way up and through the roof.

How do you open an old fireplace damper?

You should turn the knob clockwise, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper. If there is a metal chain in or besides your fireplace, it means that your chimney has a top-mounted damper. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed.

Should fireplace damper be open or closed?

The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should always be closed. An open damper is like an open window, allowing large amounts of heat from the home to escape.

How do you open and close a flue?

If there’s a lever, move it side to side or up and down to release it before sliding it horizontally. This motion will cause the damper to slowly lower in to the closed position, so the lever will remain loose. For pull chains, pull the longer one to extricate the damper and the shorter to close the flue.

Should fireplace damper be open or closed in summer?

The chimney damper is the last line of defense to keep water and critters out of your home. Even if you have a chimney cap, it is a good idea to keep the damper closed in the summer. The hot, humid air that the damper lets into the chimney won’t air out chimney odors. It may actually cause your chimney to smell.

How do you open a fireplace damper?

What is the difference between a damper and a flue?

The flue is simply the open middle of the chimney that the smoke goes up. A damper is intended to shut off- either fully or partially- the chimney flue. The reason you’d want to do that is to keep heat ($$$) from escaping up the chimney.

Should I close flue in summer?

What should I do if my fireplace damper is stuck?

If you light a fire, smoke will flow out of the fireplace into the room, if the damper is closed. It’s not unusual to find that the handle that opens and closes the damper is stuck. (If the damper handle is not stuck, but you just aren’t sure how to open or close the damper, click here for directions .) Put on goggles and a dust mask.

How do I know if the damper is closed?

You will know pretty quick if the damper is closed when smoke comes pouring into the house. We recommend the following- Keep a fireplace poker or metal rod close to the fireplace. Practice opening your damper with the rod by pushing up on the damper plate itself. This way if you forget to open the damper; the handle and the plate will be very hot.

What causes a chimney damper to rust?

Dampers rust when rain comes down the chimney because there is no chimney cap or the chimney cap has deteriorated. The damper will have pins on each end that drop into grooves in the sides of the fireplace, forming hinges.

How do you open a throat damper on a gas fireplace?

If you can pull the handle towards you then you may be closing the damper. Some dampers also work in reserve; pulling the handle towards you will open the damper, while pushing it into the fireplace will close it. Other throat dampers can also be opened and closed by moving a lever to the left or right.