Your chimney damper is an essential part of your home’s ventilation system, and it controls the flow and exit of smoke and can often become damaged. Here we will guide you through the necessary chimney damper repair procedure and discuss how you can identify a broken damper and repair it.
A chimney damper often goes by the name of a throat damper. You can think of it as a lid that connects to the chimney flue. Have you ever noticed a chain at the top front of your firebox? You can pull the chain to close the chimney damper when your fireplace is not in use. As such, the chimney damper will cover the flue and stop any cold air from entering your home.
However, when you have lit a fire and your fireplace is in use, you will need to pull the chain to open the chimney damper so that smoke can exit your chimney.
If you do not open the chimney damper while the fireplace is in use, a creosote buildup may begin to occur. If the creosote is not removed, an accident can occur, causing a chimney fire, resulting in severe possible damage to your home and furniture.
There are many different ways in which the damper may be broken. The damper may not open or close. As such, you will be unable to use the fireplace until the damper is fixed. The damper may not be in the correct direction. As a result, the smoke exiting your chimney may flow in the wrong direction. This may cause difficulties for your neighbors and people living in your vicinity.
Now let us discuss how you can fix your chimney damper. The first step will be cleaning the firebox and removing any ashes, creosote, or debris.
There are three stages to creosote buildup. During the first stage, the creosote forms into flakes that you can find clinging to the flue walls. During the second stage, the creosote turns into a liquid substance similar to tar, and as the third stage starts, the liquid forms into a glaze that spreads throughout your chimney.
If the creosote is still in its first stage, you can remove it while cleaning your chimney using a brush or simply place a cleaning log in your fireplace and burn it. However, if the creosote has turned into liquid, you will have to call professional chimney sweepers to clean the creosote. After you remove the creosote, you can clean the firebox and remove any debris present.
After you clean the firebox, you can begin removing the damper. At the top of your chimney, you will find a rod connecting the damper with your chimney, and you will also find a nut fixed to the rod to hold it in place.
First, you will have to loosen the nut and remove the rod that connects the damper to the chimney. Afterward, you can remove the damper and inspect it for cracks.
Once you remove the damper, you will have to clean the frame before installing the new damper. Once the damper is in place, you will need to connect the rod and fix the nut.
If you need any help with your chimney damper repair, our experts at Brushers Chimneys are here to assist you. You can call us at (346) 803-2981.