How to Close a Fireplace Flue

The flue of a fireplace is the little door inside the chimney that allows the smoke to leave the fireplace and cold air through the chimney so that the fire doesn't get too big. Once the fire is out, leaving the flue open can not only leave a draft in the house but it can let in birds, bats and other creatures that you don't want in the house.

1. Look inside the firebox. This is the area that contains the fire before it goes up into the chimney. There should be a little lever with a handle or a pull chain located somewhere close to the front of the fireplace. When you are sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, you should not have to get on your back or stick your head in the firebox to see this handle or pull chain.


2. Pull on the handle or the pull chain and the damper should close. The damper is a circular flap that covers the flue so that there is not a draft coming into the house. When it is open the flaps of the damper will be open vertically. When it is closed, the flaps are horizontally facing and are hard to see because it will be very dark in the firebox.


3. If you cannot locate the pull chain or the handle that closes the damper on the flue, you can always use the hook of the fireplace poker to grab hold of the flaps and pull them closed. Try not to be too aggressive about pulling the flaps closed because the iron fire poker may puncture the damper flaps then it will permanently have a draft.