The advantage of a top-mount damper over its throat-mounted cousin is that it prevents animals, birds, insects and debris from falling into the flue. This, in turn, insulates the entire chimney flue. Top-Mount DamperĪ top-mount damper seals the chimney cap. You should be able to open and close it with a knob (this is usually located on the front face of the fireplace) or rod (located in the fireplace, above the firebox). You can reach inside of the fireplace opening and behind the lintel to touch the damper. Most dampers are constructed of cast iron or steel and will be black or rust-colored. This damper, located at the top of the firebox, swings down to seal the throat shut when you don’t use the fireplace. The throat, or upper portion, of the firebrick that lines the back of your fireplace should have a slight angle to guide smoke up and out while reducing cold air intake and may slant towards the throat damper.
![chimney flume chimney flume](https://www.stovefittersmanual.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/chimney-1.jpg)
It’s easy to check if a throat damper is open or closed since it’s built into the fireplace and can be seen at the top of the firebox. A throat damper closes the base of your chimney and insulates your home from cold air. Throat dampers are a common option because they’re convenient. Start by identifying what kind of damper is in your chimney if you’re wondering if it’s open or closed. There are two main types of chimney dampers.
#CHIMNEY FLUME HOW TO#
Here’s how to tell if the damper is open or closed.
![chimney flume chimney flume](https://gaunte-wp.s3.amazonaws.com/cls237/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7210-600x799.jpg)
You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out.Ī closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house. A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace.