Carry out a visual inspection of the chimney from your fireplace. If you can see open dampers or see the sky, that will prove that the flue is open. Failure to see the sky implies a closed flue or one that may need unclogging.
A lever that's pushed to the left will close the damper whereas a lever pushed to the right will open it. Some fireplace dampers are controlled by a chain found on the inside of your fireplace. If it's hooked to the side of the fireplace wall, then this probably means that the damper is closed.
If you don't feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed. Another way to find out if the damper is open is to do a visual check. If your chimney has a traditional damper, all you need to do is shine a flashlight up the chimney. If you can see the sky, it is open.
You should find a metal device just within the chimney or flue opening. The damper is open if you can see through the damper up to your chimney. If you only see a metal plate, the damper is in a closed position.
For fireplaces with levers, you want to free the flue from its support tab by pushing up. After it releases, keep pulling the lever away from the tab to close the flue. Once it's tight, run your hand up the chimney to make sure you don't feel any air.
It's best to keep the flue closed when the fireplace is not in use.
Depending on the type of flue you have, you may actually see daylight coming in from the top of the chimney, or an open metal tube that you can see daylight through. If the tube is closed or you can't see daylight, your flue is likely closed—or in need of serious unclogging.
Visually inspect
If it's too dark to properly see, then use a flashlight. If you can see up through the damper and past to your chimney's interior, then the damper is open. If you only see the metal plate that's blocking your line of sight, then the damper is closed.
The damper and flue are two different parts, but they are related and involved in the same function. The flue is the inside tunnel of your chimney that brings gases from your fireplace out of your home, while the damper closes or opens the access to the flue.
When should the damper be kept open or closed? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace.
The second handle you may find in your fireplace (usually located on the left inside panel) is a control lever for the outside air kit. When burning your fireplace, the outside air kit lever should always be in the open (or up) position. The outside air kit is designed to provide additional air for combustion.
A flashlight should illuminate a throat damper well enough to see if it's open or closed. For a damper at the top of the chimney, you'll have a chain that controls the device. If you can pull on the chain before it jumps back up, the damper is open. You can also start a small fire as a test.
Opening up a fireplace can bring warmth and charm to your home, but it's vital to understand the associated costs. In the UK, homeowners typically invest between £500 and £3,000 for this renovation, with prices varying based on project size, material quality, and labour complexity.
Butterfly flat dish dampers: As the name suggests, the hinges for these dampers look like little butterflies that sit on top of ducts. The dampers within consist of a round blade and a seal around the circumference that meets the blade's edges, making them best for round ducts.
OPEN OR CLOSED? The damper should be kept closed when there is no fire or coals burning. Warm air from your home will not be lost up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. Fully open the damper before your start a fire and keep it fully open until all embers and coals have burned out.
If your fireplace is equipped with a lever, push it up slightly to disengage it from its support tab. Once disengaged, pull the lever horizontally away from the tab. As you do this, the damper will lower into a closed position, effectively closing the flue.
Inspect your fireplace's flue prior to use for any obstructions or blockage by using a flashlight and looking up the flue. This also assures that the flue's damper control is open prior to lighting the fire. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the fireplace or wood stove.
The best clue to knowing what type of flue you have is by simply looking at your roof and seeing what kind of outlet it has. Most of our gas fires are class 1, class 2 and precast suitable, however in the case of our wall mounted fires the requirements vary.
Inside a chimney you'll find one or more vertical passageways called flues. Ideally, each appliance connected to the chimney (such as each fireplace, each furnace, each wood stove) has its own, separate flue. More than one flue might be contained in one masonry chimney.
Each fireplace will have it's own separate flue which is divided by the mid feathers. The chimney breast in a lounge will usually house two flues; the lounge fireplace itself and also the bedroom fireplace directly above.
Creosote, which smells much like mothballs, is a chemical concoction that has been widely used as a preservative to treat pier pilings, railroad ties, utility poles, and other wood that sometimes winds up in the construction of a home or office building.