How to Open Your Chimney Damper and How to Tell if it's Open or Closed | Priddy Chimney Solutions

A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out.A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issuesince smoke would fill your house. Here’s how to tell if the damper is open or closed.What Type of Damper Do You Have?There are two main types of chimney dampers. Start by identifying what kind of damper is in your chimney if you’re wondering if it’s open or closed.Throat DamperThroat dampers are a common option because they’re convenient. A throat damper closes the base of your chimney and insulates your home from cold air. It’s easy to check if a throat damper is open or closed since it’s built into the fireplace and can be seen at the top of the firebox.The throat, or upper portion, of the firebrick that lines the back of your fireplace should have a slight angle to guide smoke up and out wh...