How to Open an Indoor Fireplace Flue Damper

Open an indoor fireplace flue damper before lighting anything in the fireplace below. The damper is a trap door at the lower end of the chimney to create an opening for smoke to escape through the flue, It closes to cut off outdoor air exchanges while a fireplace is not in use. Rooms get filled with smoke and deadly fumes when fireplaces are unwittingly lit with the damper closed. By then, it's already too hot to reach up the chimney and touch anything. Check the flue damper before loading the logs on the grate for safe and enjoyable fireside entertainment.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight

Instructions

Flue Damper with a Slotted Handle

1. Position your body to reach into the chimney. Kneel beside the opening and support your upper body with a hand on top of the hearth. Lean your head into the fireplace opening, look up the chimney and shine a flashlight inside to find the damper handle. It should be freely dangling from its hinge.

2. Open the damper door. Grab the damper handle and push up. This creates an opening to the flue.

3. Set the damper to stay opened. Secure the handle slot against the tab that protrudes from the inner wall of the chimney.

4. Check the opening. Shine the flashlight beam up into the chimney to be sure the damper is poised open and there is a clear path for gases to flow through to the flue.

Flue Damper with a Double Hinge Latch

1. Get into position. Support yourself and look up the chimney.

2. Shine a flashlight up the chimney to find the damper handle. It should be latched close to the wall over the fireplace doors.

3. Push up on the handle until it stops and becomes suspended. Push the bottom of the handle toward the back of the fireplace wall. Be sure it stays in that position with the damper opened.

4. Check to see that the damper is wide open with adequate ventilation into the flue. Glance up at the opening with a flashlight before starting a fire.

Tips & Warnings

• It's likely the flue is made of concrete or hardened steel. The weight of it may be surprising in proportion to its size.