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My damper is 4 feet up the chimney and has a pull chain to open it and vents in the flue wall underneath.

My damper is 4 feet up the chimney and has a pull chain to open it and vents in the flue wall underneath.

by | Aug 22, 2018 | Chimney Problems

Q: Jason, I have two issues. The website indicates that the chimney pillow should go above the damper. Our damper is about 4 feet up the chimney chute. It’s attached to a chain and when open, the damper bisects the flue in an up and down position. Would we still position a pillow above the damper? How?

Also, We have a set of vents below the damper on all four sides. There are about 6 horizontal vents per side and they extend from right below the damper to about 8 inches below. Can I install over those? – SS

A: Dear SS, It sounds like you have a Heatelator brand fireplace. I have done many installs like this one you described. As a matter of fact, there was a condo association in IL that had hundreds of these Heatelator fireplaces with butterfly dampers and vents underneath just as you described. See attached picture.

You will find a small ledge just above the firebrick lining the firebox. That ledge is a perfect spot to install a 36×15 Chimney Balloon. That area is trapezoid in shape but the 36×15 will have enough material to plug it anyway. See attached picture of Chimney Balloon installed. – Jason

#52: I Have a Square Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug It?

#52: I Have a Square Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug It?

by | Aug 31, 2017 | Fireplaces

#52: I Have a Square Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug It?

52-1 Closed Square Chain Damper

52-2 Closed Short-Rectangle Chain Damper

52-3 Measure Below a Square Chain Damper

Fireplace #52: Square Center-Pivot Damper With Chains Hanging Down

These metal clad square center-pivot pull chain dampers are rare. They are mostly found in double-sided fireplaces that face two rooms. These are their characteristics:

  • They have a square (image 52-1) or short-rectangle (image 52-2) sheet metal damper door.
  • The door has two chains hanging down. One to open the damper, and one to close it. (image 52-1)
  • The metal clad firebox walls get slightly narrower as you go up toward the damper. (image 52-1)

In this particular application it is easiest to install a chimney plug device below the damper, since the damper is set so high above the firebox. 

  

52-5 Flueblocker Installed

Custom Flueblocker below the damper 

We do not have any standard sized Flueblockers that fit this wide of a hole. Here are the steps to measure your application, and order a custom Flueblocker to fit below the damper.

  • Measure the size of the opening about 5 vertical inches below the damper. Measure wall to wall left to right and front to back (image 52-3).
  • From those dimensions, order a Custom Flueblocker that is at least 3″ larger than your measurements in both dimensions. The Flueblocker will need the extra material to get a tight pressure fit.
  • Contact us to get a quote on a custom Flueblocker size.

#51: I Have a Long Rectangular Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug the Flue?

#51: I Have a Long Rectangular Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug the Flue?

by | Aug 31, 2017 | Fireplaces

#51: I Have a Long Rectangular Center-Pivot Damper with Chains Hanging Down. How Do I Plug the Flue?

51-1 Closed Long Center-Pivot Chain Damper

51-2 Open Long Center-Pivot Chain Damper

51-3 Pull Chain on Chain Damper

51-4 Open Center-Pivot Damper Door

Fireplace #51: Long Rectangle Center-Pivot Damper with Chains

These long center-pivot (butterfly) rectangular dampers are rare. They are usually in custom masonry fireplaces of solid construction brick or stone. They come in a variety of sizes. These are their characteristics of the long rectangle butterfly chain dampers:

  • They have a long rectangular damper door that pivots on a center shaft. (image 51-1 and 51-2)
  • The door is opened and closed by a pair of chains attached to the face of the damper door (image 51-3). They hang down on the left and right side of the firebox.
  • The damper frame is narrow and the damper pivots on a center shaft. When the damper is open there is very little access to the smoke shelf or flue tile above the damper (image 51-4).
  • There is usually 2″ to 9″ of uninterrupted vertical space under the damper before the lintel opens to the room.

Because of the limited access above the damper. We will focus on products that install below the damper.

The Flueblocker is a durable option

51-6 Where to Measure for a Flueblocker

The Flueblocker is the best solution for this application, since the chains below the damper door can easily be pressed to the side of the firebox. Here is how a Flueblocker is installed:

  • Measure the wall to wall area left to right, and front to back below the damper (see yellow arrows in image 51-6). Then buy a Flueblocker that is a few inches bigger. If it is a really large area you may have to contact us for a custom size 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, or you can trim it to fit with sharp scissors.
  • Remove the Flueblocker before you have a fire.

 

 

What about the Chimney Balloon?

51-7 Looking Up At a Chimney Balloon Below a Chain Damper

51-7 Looking Up At a Chimney Balloon Below a Chain Damper

You can use a Chimney Balloon to plug the wall to wall area below a damper like this. There has to be at least 9″ of vertical space below the damper to fit the balloon in (image 51-7). Measure wall to wall left to right and front to back below the damper and buy a Chimney Balloon that is slightly larger than that. For example, if you measure 34×13 then buy a 36×15 Chimney Balloon. When you inflate the Chimney Balloon in place it may bulge below the lintel a bit and be visible from the room. The Chimney Balloon will require a top-off of air each 6 to 12 months, and it is not quite as durable as non-inflatable plugs. So consider it a “Plan B” for this application.