How To Open A Fireplace Flue With Chain. Manually open and close the damper to work the oil into the hinge mechanism. This keeps the smoke from traveling through the newspaper tube and into your face.
All you need is to pull the right chain. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed. Push the lever up slightly to disengage it from its support tab and then pull it away from the tab horizontally as the damper lowers into a closed position.
How to open a chimney flue.
Newer electric flue damper model designs allow you to open or close the flue with a simple push of a button. To open it, take the chain off the hook and let it go. Move the lever to open or close the damper. Manually open and close the damper to work the oil into the hinge mechanism.