What is a Flue Damper

A flue damper is a cast iron plate with a spindle that you fit inside your first piece of flue pipe that connects to your cast iron multifuel or woodburning stove. It works as a butterfly valve.

The more air that goes in a stove, and the more draw through the flue - the hotter it burns. A damper allows you to reduce the draw through the stove and therefore reduce the heat output.

It is not essential unless you wish to be able to achieve an overnight burn, but most people do find it a very worthwhile feature.

We usually stock flue dampers to fit 4inch, 5inch, 6inch and 8inch flue pipes in our Ebay shop.

How To Fit a Flue Damper

Prior to installing a damper, ensure that it's location will allow it to spin freely once installed. Ensure that the damper will be in a convenient location without obstruction from the top of the stove or cleaning access doors in the fireway for example. During installation, safety goggles / glasses should be worn at all times.

The following steps should ensure a simple installation :

1. Remove spindle from the main body. This is sometimes not as easy as it would appear, as the spring needs suffiecient pressure exerted to enable satisfactory working when installed. A good method is to hold the damper by the main body with the pointed end of the spindle facing upwards, then carefully apply pressure downwards onto a scrap piece of wood or similar. When the main body is lowered down the shaft, twist the spindle to release the two main parts.

2. When free and decision has been made as to the location of the damper, a 6mm (1/4" approx) hole must be drilled at opposite parameters of the flue pipe. Drill very carefully as a snug fit is best. Extreme care should be execrised when drilling - especially into vitreous enamelled flue pipe.

3. Once the holes are drilled, the main body of the damper needs carefuul sliding into the flue pipe to the loaction of the holes. Whilst in situ, slide the centre of the spindle through the main body of damper, twisting where neccessary to refit in it's original location through the main body.

4. Prior to intalling the flue pipe with damper fitte, check that when the handle is horizontal, the damper also is (damper closed) and when vertical, that the damper also is (damper open)