How do I close my fireplace? Cold air gets in!
 

There's a black lever, how do I close it so that cold air doesn't get in? Are you supposed to push the lever back to close it, or do you pull it sideways?

Here is a pic... Do I push it back or sideways? I'm in a new place and not used to fireplace so I really have no idea about these things. I tried doing it both ways and it won't budge. Which way is the correct way???

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5...2365wa9.th.jpg

Start a fire so cold air doesn't get in

Before gas was invented we used to have a chain one that you would pull down

hhmmm..maybe you should ask the elders..

Have you tried pushing straight up. Also just look up at it and figure how it works and go from there.

you have to close that up there while closing it and you should be able to see

we have a fireplace were the wood never burns out :P

Elders? This is my own place. I've never had a fireplace before so how would I know how to close it? I'm not really into home/house maintenance stuff so I'm not too knowledgeable about these issues.

It's an electric fireplace btw. I only used it once for the novelty factor.

I also asked a friend and he couldn't figure it out either. I tried pushing it up and I don't think it can go up.

I guess I have no choice but to call the maintenance man tomorrow.

all fireplaces will leak a considerable amount of air (generally you won't notice, as the hot air goes OUT of them!)

Invest in something like http://www.amazon.com/Fireplace-Chim.../dp/B0001HA8MC and I bet it returns your investment in the first year or so (if you have harsh winters where you live)

Thanks, I think the black lever that I have (from the pic I posted) is a damper though, I think I'm not strong enough to push it in enough so it will close completely. I'll have to call maintenance.

I don't have really harsh winters, I'm in So Cal, but it's been freezing here lately. I'm spoiled by the warm weather so EVERYTHING is cold to me, I think 70 degrees F is pretty cold already so I don't like cold air leaking out.

I've been at this place for a few months and at first it was REALLY cold even though I kept turning the heat way up. I couldn't figure out why and thought perhaps it wasn't well insulated or that the windows weren't sealed right. It never even DAWNED on me that it could be the fireplace, until one day I was close to it and just felt a cold draft coming from it, and a light bulb went off in my head. I put my hand under there and I could totally feel the cold air coming in. I live in an apartment though and there's two levels of floors above me so I'm not sure how the "damper" thing works in that case when there's people above you....

I'm just stupid and never used a fireplace so I wasn't even aware they had "dampers" and how you go about closing them...

It depends on the fireplace. My old one had a chain that pulled up and down to close the damper (but it still let in considerable amounts of cold air). The one I have now looks like yours and my lever turns left and right - left to close, right to open.

i am having the same situation that is why i'll change the house soon.

Once you get it closed, don't forget to open it again befor starting a fire or you'll probably get a chimeny fire and possibly burn your place down :)

with a burglar.

There should be a handle right under the flue... The pipe that goes up. You will get a little dirty because you have to kind of get in the fire place to see it. It is just a piece of metal like your heating vents to open and close them. Unless it is really old or really new.

Just realized you said electric, EVERYTHING I said might be different.