By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
The people who are buying my home, upon advice of their home inspector, have asked that I remove the fireplace damper prior to closing escrow. I've explained that this would be impractical since an open chimney would allow warm air to escape from the home during the winter months. They agreed with this point but insisted that dampers are unsafe when fireplaces have gas burners. This is a new one on me. Are the buyers right about removing the damper? -- Bill
Dear Bill,
Changes in the safety requirements for fireplace dampers were enacted in 1991, but current standards apply only to newly installed gas log fireplaces. Wood burning fireplaces or gas log units that were in place prior to 1991 are exempt from the newer code.
According to the latest standards, dampers must either be removed or permanently secured in the open position if gas logs are installed. The purpose for this requirement is to prevent noxious combustion gases from venting into the living area. With some of the newer fireplace designs, closed dampers can be particularly hazardous because burners can be ignited by the simple flip of a switch. This means that a small child could unwittingly turn on the fireplace burner. With a closed damper, carbon monoxide could vent into the home.
If your fireplace is older than 1991 or if it operates as a wood-burning fixture, then compliance with the new requirement is not mandatory. But disabling your damper could be as simple as attaching a common C-clamp. Retro-fitting the damper may not be required, but humoring your buyers could be less problematic than a protracted debate and could actually improve the general safety of the home. If heat loss due to an open damper is a concern, the buyers can install glass doors after the close of escrow.
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