Improper Damper
Both fireplaces have material jammed into the flue as a makeshift damper.
Less commonFix nowFireplace
Why it matters
Without a proper damper, the fireplace would likely produce a lot of smoke. The material jammed into the flue also looks flammable.
How common is it?
Didn't come up in the homes HomeCloud evaluated Sep 2025 to Oct 2026, but it's on our list of HVAC findings.
Counted by the finding's name on HomeCloud reports, so the true number can be a little higher.
How soon to fix it
HomeCloud reports list this as a fix-now item.
More HVAC resources
What kind of HVAC system do I have?How to tell a heat pump from a gas furnace with AC, a packaged unit or a mini-split, and how to read the equipment label for its size and age.The best HVAC brandsWho makes the major brands, how to compare equipment fairly, and why the installer matters as much as the brand.HVAC maintenanceWhat you can do yourself (filters, the outdoor unit, the condensate line) and what a yearly tune-up covers.
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