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Damper parts are hard to find for a custom fireplace.

Damper parts are hard to find for a custom fireplace.

by | Feb 20, 2019 | Fireplaces

Stone Fireplace

Q: Dear Jason, I have a custom made wood burning cobblestone fireplace in my cabin upstate. The damper was made by the person that built the fireplace 35 years ago. I have looked all over to find damper parts for this damper because the handle has broken off and the damper is so rusty it cannot be opened or closed all the way anymore. My chimney sweep said he can have a metals shop custom make damper parts similar to the old one that he can install for me, but the quote was $975! I found the Chimney Balloon on-line as an alternative to a damper. Would there be any reason I cant use a Chimney Balloon instead of a damper?  – TU

A: Dear TU, If you have a location in your fireplace flue either above or below the current damper that has roughly parallel walls and is 6″ in height and is not obstructed in other ways with damper hardware or other hardware than I do not see any reason  why you couldn’t use a Chimney Balloon with this fireplace. Custom Chimney Dampers can be very expensive to have fabricated as you noted in your email. The Chimney Balloon will also give you a far tighter seal that results in heat and money saved. – Jason

#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?

by | Aug 31, 2017 | Fireplaces

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

41-1 Closed Damper with No Handle or Opener

41-2 Open Damper with No Handle or Opener

41-3 Broken Rusted-Out Damper Door

41-4 Location to Measure for a Flueblocker

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?

by | 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

Chimney Balloon

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?

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.

# 4: I Have a Round Drop-down Trapdoor Style Damper. How do I Plug the Round Flue Pipe?

# 4: I Have a Round Drop-down Trapdoor Style Damper. How do I Plug the Round Flue Pipe?

by | Aug 21, 2017 | Chimney Plugs, Fireplaces

# 4: I Have a Round Drop-down Trapdoor Style Damper. How do I Plug the Round Flue Pipe?

4-1 Open Flue Pipe above a Round Side-Hinged Damper

4-2 Closed Round Trap-door Side-Hinged Damper

4-3 9×9 Chimney Balloon installed in a Majestic Fireplace

Fireplace #4: Round Trapdoor Side-Hinged Damper Covering a Round Flue

This is the easiest of all the fireplaces to plug. The damper drops out of the way, and you get a clear shot at the round chimney flue. These sheet metal dampers are often fitted on Majestic or Superior brand zero-clearance pre-fabricated fireplaces. These were popular in the 70’s and early 80’s, and it is hard to get damper parts for them anymore.  The sheet metal doors often warp, then the asbestos ring falls off the edge of the door.  At that point they drop open on their own.

Wood Burning Fireplace Users:

Open the damper and make a diameter measurement of the hole just above the damper (image 4-1), then buy a Flueblocker that will fit in that hole. Or buy one that is a bit big for the hole, since you can then trim it down to fit with a sharp pair of scissors. Here are some examples:

Example 1:  You measure 8” diameter = You buy a 9” Round Flueblocker

Example 2: You measure 9” diameter = You buy a 9” Round Flueblocker

Example 3: You measure a 11” diameter = You buy a 12” Round Flueblocker

Flueblockers are physically a little bit larger than their labeled size. This is so they can press in to fit and hold in place by pressure tension. When yours arrives you just press it right into place into the round chimney flue. It is up to you if you want to close the damper below the plug.

IMPORTANT! ESPECIALLY FOR FORGETFUL PEOPLE!:
If you close the damper below the Flueblocker, mark the fireplace VERY CLEARLY that the chimney is plugged. It is easy to forget about the Flueblocker up above the damper. You MUST open the damper AND remove the Flueblocker to use the fireplace.

Gas Log Users: If you have a gas log set in this fireplace, you have a decision to make.

Here are your two options:

  • You can turn off the gas line to this fireplace and put in a small 9×9 or 12×12 Chimney Balloon just above the damper. This way if you have a house guest that fires up the gas logs without asking, he won’t back up exhaust fumes into the house. The Chimney Balloon will burst and fall out since it is designed to do that. The downside to this, is the Chimney Balloon is an inflatable and not as durable as a Flueblocker.
  • You can turn off the gas line and remove or permanently disable the gas log set and then put in a Flueblocker. Do NOT light a fire under a Flueblocker. If you do light a fire under a Flueblocker fumes backup into the house and bad things happen…enough said.

Gas logs are a separate conversation. We also have an article on how gas logs can poison you or pick your pocket over time.