Masonry Fireplace Throat Dampers

Masonry over a fireplace opening shall be supported by a lintel of noncombustible material.

Masonry fireplace throat dampers.

The fireplace throat or damper shall be located not less than 8 inches 203 mm above the lintel. The damper frame is the correct opening but if the masonry throat opening is too big closing the throat opening abruptly with the damper frame will cause turbulence that will act like a restriction and may cause the fireplace to smoke. A throat damper is a plate made from a fire resistant material such as metal or ceramic and sits just above the firebox covering the entire internal area of the chimney. The fireplace damper should not be built in solidly at each end.

The minimum required bearing length on each end of the fireplace opening shall be 4 inches 102 mm. The back flange of the fireplace damper should be protected from intense heat by being placed directly over and fully supported by the back wall firebrick masonry. A traditional fireplace damper will usually be positioned just inside the base of the chimney called the throat of the chimney at the top of the fireplace. Throat dampers heavy gauge steel construction throughout.

Vestal fireplace dampers either poker control rotary control or chain control meet the qualifications. For decades the most common damper in masonry fireplaces was a cast iron throat damper. Poker damper control is standard. This allows the damper to be hidden from away from view but also easily accessible from within the fireplace.

Here s what you can expect a throat damper to look like. Fireplace throat dampers are used to regulate the flow of air from inside your home from moving up the chimney and being released outside. A damper must be in one piece that is snug to the flue in order for it to work properly. They are usually made of a cast iron plate that can be opened or closed with the help of a lever or handle.

For questions on any of the available fireplace or accessory please contact an rcp block brick near you. This can warp and damage the fireplace damper thus needing replacement. A throat damper can be manually opened or closed using a handle or lever and helps to prevent loss of warm air from a home when the fireplace isn t being used. Fireplace dampers sit almost directly above the heat of the fire.

Vestal 42 inch cast iron throat style fireplace damper. Over time the extreme heat and rapid change in temperature.