How to Close Chimney Flues

Close the chimney flue after burning a fire to keep your house warm.

When burning a fire in the fireplace, it is essential to keep the damper open to allow smoke to escape through the chimney flue. Once the fire burns out, you must close the damper to save heating costs and prevent cold drafts from entering the home.

Things You'll Need

• Fireplace poker
• Work gloves
• Flashlight

Instructions

1. Turn off the fireplace’s gas to extinguish the flame. If you have a traditional woodstove, wait for the fire to burn out on its own or spread the coals with a poker to speed the process.

2. Wait for the fireplace area to cool down to room temperature before attempting to close the damper.

3. Put on work gloves to protect your hands from soot. Using a flashlight, locate the damper lift’s vertical handle inside the chimney’s interior wall.

4. Push the handle upward, then pull it away from the chimney wall. Slowly lower the damper to close the chimney flue.

Tips & Warnings

• Never extinguish an indoor fire with water because the extreme temperature change could cause fireplace bricks to crack.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Chimney Problems
• The Family Handyman: When to Clean a Chimney Flue