My uncle told me to always check the damper before starting a clean, and I'm glad I listened

I was cleaning a chimney in an old farmhouse near Salina yesterday. My uncle, who taught me the trade, always said, 'Feel for the draft with your hand first, every single time.' I opened the cleanout door and did just that, and felt a strong pull of cold air. The damper was stuck wide open, which would have sent a ton of soot straight into the living room if I'd just started brushing. I had to work it loose with some lubricant before I could even start. Has anyone else had a damper surprise them like that right at the start of a job?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee9262d ago

Honestly, that's a solid tip from your uncle. Tbh I've seen dampers rusted shut more than stuck open, but either way it's a mess waiting to happen. Had one last month that was just barely cracked, felt like no draft at all until I got up on the roof. Whole thing was basically blocked. Makes you slow down and check every time.

paulschmidt2d ago

That "barely cracked" thing reminds me of a flue I found packed with a bird's nest once.

loganl222d ago

Sounds like that bird was running a BnB.