A fire damper is a device located in a chimney that closes when there is too much heat. Every damper has a fusible link that will break and cause the damper to close on its own at about 165 degrees. This can help prevent a fire from spreading if it is getting to large. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you will never need your damper to close.

• Never build a fire that is too large for your fireplace.
• Clean out your chimney every once in a while to prevent a flue fire.
• Never leave a fire unattended. Even the smallest spark can ignite your carpet or furniture
• If your fire is getting too large, throw some water on it to slow it down.
• Use dry wood because it causes less sparks.

Using a Damper

Always remember to open your damper before you start a fire and close it when you are done. There should be some sort of lever located on your fireplace if it was built after 1950 that serves to open and close the damper. Keeping it open while you have a fire allows the smoke to pass through the chimney, while keeping it closed when there isn’t one will keep area heated from the furnace inside your home.