How to Clean a Chimney Damper

Some people use their fireplaces year after year without ever thinking about cleaning the damper, which could be very dangerous. It is highly recommended that a chimney damper be cleaned every year before it is used to eliminate any soot or debris that may have built up.

How to Clean a Chimney Damper

1. Use a small handheld broom to sweep out the fireplace. It is recommended that you place a piece of plastic or an old sheet in front of the fireplace before doing this to protect your carpeting. You should also have a trash can nearby so you do not have to walk through the house to discard the ashes.


2. Lay out pieces of newspaper on the floor of the fireplace. This is done to catch the soot and ashes that falls when the damper is removed.


3. Remove the damper plate from the chimney. This is done by removing the screws or cotter pins holding it in place and slowly pulling the damper from the chimney.


4. Use a wire brush to scrape the built up soot off of the damper while holding it over the newspaper.


5. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water, 6 tablespoons of tri-sodium phosphate cleaner and 1 cup of bleach.


6. Dip a scrub brush in the cleaning solution and gently scrub the back and front of the damper.


7. Use clean water to rinse the damper once all the soot has been removed and dry with a clean towel.


8. Replace the damper back in the chimney and remove the newspaper.