Learn How to Properly Close a Chimney Flue.

Learn How to Properly Close a Chimney Flue

February 17, 2015

There’s nothing like a cold, Iowa winter, especially here in Des Moines, to make you appreciate the warmth and charm of a fireplace. But if you’re not sure how to close your chimney flue, that cozy fireplace could let in an unwelcome cold draft. At Lozier Heating & Cooling, we’ve been helping homeowners stay comfortable for over 115 years. Keep reading to discover why closing your flue is essential and how to do it.

Form and Function

A fireplace flue is designed to lead smoke outdoors when your fireplace is being used. Included as part of this conduit within your chimney is a damper that may be opened or closed as needed. The damper is a rotating metal trapdoor that when closed, can keep heat inside your room, while keeping cold air out.

How to Close a Chimney Flue

Before the flue is closed, it's important to ensure there's no longer anything burning in the fireplace. From there, just a few minutes are needed to complete the following steps:

  • Attempting to close your flue too soon can trap residual smoke and carbon monoxide indoors, while being very hot to the touch. Allow time for all surfaces to cool before proceeding.
  • Using a flashlight, look inside your fireplace to locate a lever or set of pull chains, which may have rings on the ends. These are typically found on the interior front wall of the fireplace.
  • If there's a lever, move it side to side or up and down to release it before sliding it horizontally. This motion will cause the damper to slowly lower in to the closed position, so the lever will remain loose.
  • For pull chains, pull the longer one to extricate the damper and the shorter to close the flue.
  • Be sure to reverse the procedure to reopen the flue prior to your next fire.

For more tips on how to close a chimney flue, call our local experts at (515) 267-1000 or contact us online. Since 1906, we’ve proudly served homeowners in the Des Moines area with honest, no-nonsense pricing and reliable service. Our mission is to educate customers across the greater Des Moines area on energy efficiency and home comfort, especially when it comes to HVAC systems.

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