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”

Damper restrictor

Damper restrictor

Q: I went to install my Chimney Balloon over my gas log fireplace and I found a clip that was holding my fireplace damper open. I removed it and now the damper works fine.

A: The clip you found was a damper restrictor. However, keep in mind that it is against most state codes to have a gas log fireplace without a damper restrictor in place. I would check with your county before you go and seal up with your metal damper. This is an issue that can void some homeowners insurances, so it is very important to stay within this code if it applies to your state.

The reason for this code is gas logs burn very clean and you can easily start a fire in the fireplace and forget to open the damper for quite some time while the fire burns on…This creates a buildup of carbon monoxide and heat that can start a fire (starting with your mantel) or the carbon Monoxide can overcome you and others in your home. The downside of this code is that having a damper restrictor on your damper is like having a window cracked open all year round.

If I were you I would call the County Building Code Office or call a fireplace retailer and ask them first about the codes in your area. Here is a great article on this matter: http://www.washingtongasliving.com/fireplace/installation.cfm