#26: I have a Rumford Fireplace Damper, How Do I Plug the Flue

by blogediter | Aug 25, 2017 | Fireplaces

#26: I have a Rumford Fireplace Damper, How Do I Plug the Flue

26-1 Closed Rumford Damper

26-2 Closed Rumford Damper

26-3 Firebox Image

Fireplace #26: Rumford Fireplace Damper

These Rumford Dampers are very common in masonry fireplaces of solid brick. These are their characteristics:

They have a long rectangular cast iron damper door.
The door has a 16″ long curved cast iron handle sticking down from the center of the damper door. The handle has saw teeth on the back, and a loop on the end.
The shaft of the handle sticks through a metal bracket (image 26-1)
The top of the firebox has a tall and tapered throat leading to the damper
The footprint of the firebox is a very sharply angled trapezoid (image 26-3). So the back of the firebox is not as wide as the front.

The nice thing about these Rumford dampers is they have a long tall taper from the firebox to the damper, and the damper handle is easy to remove. The handle is usually held on with a cotter pin .

To plug it below the damper, use the Flueblocker

The Flueblocker can be easily fit into the area below the damper. It seals and insulates very well. You will have to remove the damper handle, or cut a slot in the Flueblocker to accommodate the handle, to fit the Flueblocker into the throat that leads to the damper. When you order a Flueblocker make sure it is at least as big as your largest measurements of the trapezoid. (see area marked in yellow)

What about the Chimney Balloon?

The Chimney Balloon can work well in this application. It generally installs into the exact same spot the Flueblocker would go. But keep in mind a Chimney Balloon will be about 8″ tall when inflated. (see image on the left) It gives you a very tight seal, however it is an inflatable. So it is not as durable as the other options. And it requires a top-off on air every 6 to 12 months because of the swings in outside air temperature.

#25: I Have a Multi-Hinge Damper, How Do Plug the Flue?

by blogediter | Aug 25, 2017 | Fireplaces

#25: I Have a Multi-Hinge Damper, How Do Plug the Flue?

25-1 Open Multi-Hinge Damper

25-2 Closed Multi Hinge Damper

25-3 Measure Flue Tile

Fireplace #25: Multi-Hinge Damper

These Multi Hinge Dampers are not very common. They are sturdy, but also really over-engineered and not easy to disassemble. Here are the characteristics of this damper:

You swing the center damper handle that hangs down into the firebox from front to back to open and close the damper door.
There are numerous cotter pins operating hinges that actuate the damper.
There is a long rectangular damper frame and matching damper door.
Multi- Hinge dampers actuate almost identically to Vestal Dampers, except they have a more complicated actuator.

Because of the hardware below the damper, there are two ways to plug this flue.

If you want to plug it and forget it, use the Flueblocker

If you don’t use your fireplace very much and you just want a way to plug the flue for a long duration, go with a Flueblocker. Here is a video on how the Flueblocker works. Remove the cotter pin that holds the damper door to the damper handle (image 25-2 see red arrow). Measure the length and width of the damper door, and buy a Flueblocker that is slightly larger that that size. You will likely need a 8×32 or 9×45 Flueblocker.

You will need to thread the wool pad of the Flueblocker between the detached damper handle, and the damper door. It is a tight fit, but the wool pad will effectively cover the closed damper door.

What about the Chimney Balloon?

If you are lucky enough to have a low flue tile like this photo, you can use a Chimney Balloon to plug the flue tile. You would need to get a measurement of the length and width of the flue tile first (image 25-3), so you will know what size Chimney Balloon to use. Flue tiles generally take a 12×12, 15×15 or 24×12. Also purchase a HEK handle extender to give the handle some extra length to reach the flue tile. The Chimney Balloon will require a top-off of air each 6 to 12 months, and it is not quite as durable as the other two options above. So consider it a “Plan B” for this application.

#24: I Have a Center Swing Handle Damper, How do I Plug the Flue.

by blogediter | Aug 25, 2017 | Fireplaces

#24: I Have a Center Swing Handle Damper, How do I Plug the Flue.

24-1 Hardware for center swing handle damper

24-2 Center Swing Handle damper with Flueblocker installed

24-3 Measure area in red for a Flueblocker

24-4 Flueblocker cut for damper handle

Fireplace #24: Swing Handle Damper and High Flue Tile

These Swing Handle Dampers are very common in masonry fireplaces of solid brick or stone. These are their characteristics:

They have a long rectangular sheet iron damper frame and matching door.
The door has a straight cast iron handle sticking down. (image 24-1)
The handle swings forward and back.
All of the hardware is welded or bolted and is not removable.
The damper door is at a slight angle when closed.

If you want to plug it tight, use the Flueblocker

If you have the swing handle damper that has a handle in the center of the damper (image 24-3) or with the handle on the side (image 24-4), you can use a Flueblocker. It seals and insulates very well. Measure the peaked area below the closed damper. (marked in red in image 24-3). Order a Flueblocker that is slightly large for the measured size. When you install the Flueblocker, cut a small slit for the straight damper handle to come through. (image 24-2 and image 24-4)

#23: I have a Swing Handle Damper with Bar Supports, How Do I Plug the Flue?

by blogediter | Aug 25, 2017 | Fireplaces

#23: I have a Swing Handle Damper with Bar Supports, How Do I Plug the Flue?

23-1 Swing handle damper open

23-2 Swing handle damper closed

23-3 Swing handle damper with Flueblocker behind the horizontal bracket

23-4 Measure length and width above the horizontal bracket

Fireplace #23: Swing Handle Damper with Supports and High Flue Tile

These Swing Handle Dampers are very common in masonry fireplaces of solid brick or stone. These are their characteristics:

They have a long rectangular sheet iron damper frame and matching door.
The door has a straight cast iron handle sticking down attached to a horizontal support. (image 23-2)
The handle swings forward and back.
All of the hardware is welded or bolted and is not removable.
The damper door is almost straight vertical when closed.
There are sometimes welded metal horizontal bracers below the damper (image 23-2)

This damper style is best sealed with a long rectangle Flueblocker (image 23-3). You will measure the length and depth of the area right above the horizontal bracket (image 23-4). The Flueblocker will lay right on top of those horizontal brackets. You will need to cut a small slit in the Flueblocker wool pad to accommodate the straight metal damper handle to stick through (image 23-3). Since you are threading the wool pad through a tight triangular area, it is easiest to thread the wool pad into place above the horizontal supports without the black plastic Flueblocker handles attached (image 23-3).

#22: I Have a Bevel Gear Damper, How Do I Plug the Flue?

by blogediter | Aug 25, 2017 | Fireplaces

#22: I Have a Bevel Gear Damper, How Do I Plug the Flue?

22-1 Open Bevel Gear Damper with Low Flue Tile

22-2 Closed Bevel Gear Damper

22-3 Measure Flue Tile

Fireplace #22: Bevel Gear Damper

These Bevel Gear Dampers are not very common. The gearing and shafts often break or get corroded. Parts are hard to come by. Here are the characteristics of this damper:

You swing the horizontal damper handle that hangs down into the firebox from left to right to open and close the damper door.
There is non-removable gearing and shafts that actuate the damper.
There is a long rectangular damper frame and matching damper door.
Bevel Gear Dampers operate almost identically to Vestal Dampers , except they have a different opening and closing mechanism.

Because of the gearing and shafts below the damper, there is no way to install any draft stopper chimney plug below the damper. In this particular application you can see through the damper opening. The flue tile comes down to just inches vertically above the damper (image 22-1). This allows you to touch the flue tile by hand. That makes the flue tile an ideal location to plug.

If you want to plug it and forget it, use the Flueblocker

Here is a video on how the Flueblocker works. You will need to take a quick measurement of the flue tile with a ruler (Image 22-3). Then buy a Flueblocker that size, or a little large for the hole. The Flueblocker is a wool pad with extra hems, so you can trim it to size with sharp scissors. The handle on the Flueblocker is only 1 foot long, so you may want some 6″ handle extenders for your Flueblocker to make it easier to stuff in the flue tile.

What about the Chimney Balloon?

22-5 Chimney Balloon in Flue Tile

You can use a Chimney Balloon to plug a low flue like this. You would need to get a measurement of the length and width of the flue tile first (image 22-3), so you will know what size Chimney Balloon to use. Flue tiles generally take a 12×12 or 15×15. Also purchase a HEK handle extender to give the handle some extra length to reach the flue tile (image 22-5). The Chimney Balloon will require a top-off of air each 6 to 12 months, and it is not quite as durable as the other two options above. So consider it a “Plan B” for this application.

#100: What Chimney Plug Do I Use if I Have a Damper Frame But No Door?

by blogediter | Aug 24, 2017 | Fireplaces

#100: What Chimney Plug Do I Use if I Have a Damper Frame But No Door?

100-1 Damper frame but no door

100-3 Flueblocker installed

100-4 Chimney Balloon installed

Chimney Balloon

Fireplace #100: Metal Damper Frame, But No Damper Door

These fireplaces with a metal damper frame, but no door are common (image 100-1). Due to moisture and creosote acid, the metal rots away on the door and hardware. This represent a worst-possible-case-scenario as far and heating and cooling loss goes for your home. Once you get this plugged, you will notice an immediate difference.

You take your pick from the chimney plugs we offer. You just need to select the location you want to plug the flue, and measure length and width of that location.

Here are the advantages of each of the chimney plugs we offer:

The Flueblocker would install right into the old damper frame opening. So measure the opening, and buy a Flueblocker that is at least that size. If you buy one oversized, you can trim it to fit with sharp scissors. This wool pad offers a tight seal and insulation properties. This is good if you prefer a fix it and forget it solution. (image 100-3)
The Chimney Balloon provides a tight seal and sound buffering capability. It is an inflatable, so it is less durable that the other options. The Chimney Balloon is about 10″ tall when inflated. So you must install it low in the smoke chamber right above the damper frame (image 100-4). It does particularly well at stopping odors and bugs.

What if I see a cable or chain coming down the chimney?

100-2: Chimney Top damper cable

If there is a cable or chain coming down your chimney (image 100-2) that is a different kind of application, called a chimney top damper. You should read the article on that fireplace application.