DoItYourself.com talks about chimney damper building codes

DoItYourself.com talks about chimney damper building codes

Gas Burn

We have often fielded the questions about Gas log fireplaces and why a damper has to be removed or restricted when a gas log fireplace is installed. If a gas log fireplace was installed after 1991 the building codes state that the damper must be disabled or removed. Below is a portion of a Q and A session on www.doityourself.com about this very topic. You can see our Q & A writeups on this topic here. http://www.chimneyballoonusa.com/blog/vented_gas_logs/index.html

Here is the Q & A session from DoIt Yourself.com on gas logs and dampers:

Q: The folks who are buying my home, upon advice of their home inspector, have asked that I remove the fireplace damper prior to closing escrow. I’ve explained that this would be impractical since an open chimney would allow warm air to escape from the home during the winter months. They agreed with this point but insisted that dampers are unsafe when fireplaces have gas burners. This is a new one on me. Are the buyers right about removing the damper? -B

A: Dear Bl, Changes in the safety requirements for fireplace dampers were enacted in 1991, but current standards apply only to newly installed gas log fireplaces…. click here to read the rest of the article”

I have stuck fireplace dampers, they appear to be rusted shut and they are drafty.

I have stuck fireplace dampers, they appear to be rusted shut and they are drafty.

Stuck Fireplace Dampers

Q: Jason, I have two fireplaces in my house and would never use them because fireplaces are a MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION AND SHOULD BE BANNED!

Anyway, the top fireplace was used by previous owners and the damper is in pretty good condition. The bottom damper wasn’t used much and ironically the damper is warped a bit and also rusted so that I can’t open it. How can I use a Chimney Balloon in this application? – BT

A: Dear BT, Because of the acids and moisture in Chimneys it is very common to find rust and corrosion on the damper like you found in your lower Chimney. It is also very common to find a warped and rusty damper even after little use. That is part of the reason that dampers are made so loose fitting. The heating and cooling process causes this to occur in almost any damper situation.

It is possible to install a Chimney Balloon below the damper as long as the walls are parallel and the Chimney Balloon has a point of contact on all sides and the damper hardware does not interfere. Otherwise, above the damper is the best location. – Jason

Note: In this particular situation we found some WD40 and persistence can loosen a stuck damper. Once the damper was open we got a measurement of the smoke chamber above the damper and got a Chimney Balloon to fit that area.

#41: I Have a Damper with No Handle or Opener. How Do I Plug the Flue?

#41: I Have a Damper with No Handle or Opener. How Do I Plug the Flue?

#41: I Have a Damper with No Handle or Opener. How Do I Plug the Flue?

Fireplace #41: Damper with No Handle or Opening Hardware

If you look up and see a damper that has no handle and there is no opening and closing apparatus at all inside or outside of the fireplace a few things are possible:

  1. There use to be a damper handle or mechanism, but it broke or rusted out. (image 41-3)
  2. There never was a handle and this damper is just designed to be opened by hand. (image 41-1)

In both of these cases, I would not trust this metal damper. This is why: Imagine you open that damper by hand, start a fire in the fireplace, and then leave the room to go to the bathroom, or make a sandwich, or whatever… While you are gone the gradual heating and expansion of the damper causes it to fall closed. This damper very possibly could be missing the counterweight or mechanical apparatus that generally holds it open. So this is a likely scenario. Now your home is filling with smoke and fumes from the closed damper, and you have to rush to figure out how to get in the flaming-hot firebox and flip the damper open again.

The Flueblocker below the damper

The Flueblocker is the best solution for this application, since there is no damper hardware to contend with. Here is how a Flueblocker is installed:

  • Measure the wall to wall area left to right, and front to back below the damper (image 41-4).
  • Buy a Flueblocker that is the proper size or a few inches large. You can trim it to size with scissors if needed. If you don’t find the size you need in our standard sizes contact us for a custom quote.
  • Tuck the Flueblocker into the area you had measured. If it is over-sized, it may bow upward a bit from the pressure fit.

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

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

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

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?

Chimney Top damper cable

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.

#99: What Chimney Plug Do I Use if I have No Damper?

#99: What Chimney Plug Do I Use if I have No Damper?

#99: What Chimney Plug Do I Use if I have No Damper?

Fireplace #99: Wide-Open Smoke Chamber and Flue, No Hardware

These fireplaces with no damper or hardware are usually quite old. They represent a worst-possible-case-scenario for heating and cooling loss. Once you get this plugged, you will notice an immediate difference in the home.

You can basically take your pick from the chimney plugs we offer. You just need to select the height you want to plug the flue, and measure length and width of that location (image 99-1)
Here are the advantages of each:

  • The Flueblocker comes in many sizes. So you can select one that is slightly larger than your measurements and press-fit it in place. This wool pad offers a tight seal and insulation properties.  This is good if you prefer a fix it and forget it solution. (image 99-3)
  • The Chimney Balloon provides a tight seal and sound buffering capability. It is an inflatable, so it is less durable that the wool plug. The Chimney Balloon is about 10″ tall when inflated. So you must install it low in the flue where the walls are parallel, so it can grab the walls. It does particularly well at stopping odors and bugs. (image 99-4)