Common questions

How do you add a damper to an existing fireplace?

How do you add a damper to an existing fireplace?

Below is a quick guide on how to install a damper in your fireplace.

  1. Step 1 – Open the Fireplace Doors.
  2. Step 2 – Remove Logs and Clean Fireplace.
  3. Step 3 – Remove the Existing Damper.
  4. Step 4 – Purchase a New Damper.
  5. Step 5 – Install New Damper.
  6. Step 6 – Open Damper.
  7. Step 7 – Replace the Logs.
  8. Step 8 – Clean Up.

What is a fireplace damper clip?

Damper clamps, also known as damper locks, are little pieces of hardware like the image above. Damper clamps keep the chimney’s damper from closing, allowing dangerous gases to escape the firebox in the case of a gas leak. This piece is imperative to home safety.

Can you use a fireplace without a damper?

Your fireplace probably has a damper. And while older wood-burning fireplaces can function safely without a damper (gas fireplaces cannot), a chimney without a damper is just a gaping hole in the roof of your house. It’s a gateway for frigid air to enter and for heated air to escape in the winter.

What is the difference between a chimney flue and damper?

A damper is located in the flue of your chimney. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.

How much does it cost to put a damper in a fireplace?

$180, Installed The average cost to repair or replace the damper in your fireplace or chimney is around $60 for damper door replacement only, with DIY installation. If the frame needs to be replaced as well, plan on $350-$400 and a Pro to do the job.

Do I need a flue damper?

Flue dampers are required on double door stoves when burned with doors open and screen in place. The damper then becomes your only control to slow the fire. It’s good to have one on any stove in case while loading you get a log stuck and can’t shut the door right away while you fight it.

Do you need a damper for a wood fireplace?

More modern wood stoves typically won’t require a damper, while older models of stoves may require a damper to help increase efficiency and heat output.

What does a damper do in a fireplace?

A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out.

Do all chimneys need a damper?

Do All Chimneys Have A Damper? Not all chimneys or flues have a damper. Open fireplaces can usually be found with damper located within the upper part of the firebox. It’s common to find a damper as part of an open fireplace, but in some cases there may be no damper at all.

Where is the damper located on a fireplace?

A damper plate located at the top of a chimney (within a top-mounted damper) is usually square in shape and spring loaded to open or close via a pulley chain, with the chain handle to control the damper located within the fireplace.

What is the purpose of a chimney damper?

A fireplace or chimney damper is used for: Helping to control the efficiency, and reducing the intensity, of a fire in a fireplace by partially closing off the damper. Ensuring that waste smoke and gases from a fire are vented from your home when the damper is open.

Who is the largest manufacturer of cast iron fireplace dampers?

Despite subsidizing under the Jim Walter Corporation and a later buyout, Vestal remains a leader in the industry, reputable as the world’s largest producer of cast iron dampers and other essential fireplace parts and accessories.

Do you need a pivot damper for a masonry fireplace?

However, it is very popular as a retrofit for masonry fireplaces that have been relined with a steel liner or prefabricated fireplaces that have a damaged or missing pivot damper. New prefabricated fireplaces should come with information about the type of damper they require, with many already including a factory pivot damper.

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