Table of Contents
You should turn the knob clockwise, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper. If there is a metal chain in or besides your fireplace, it means that your chimney has a top-mounted damper. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed.
Is my damper open or closed?
A visual check is one of the surest ways of checking whether the damper is open or not. Simply stick your head in the fireplace and look up. If you have a throat damper, the closed damper immediately above your head will block your vision. You should be able to reach up and touch the closed damper.
How do you know if the flue is open or closed?
Lean in under your chimney just outside of your wood burning stove. You should find a metal device just within the chimney or flue opening. The damper is open if you can see through the damper up to your chimney. If you only see a metal plate, the damper is in a closed position.
Where is the fireplace damper located?
What is a fireplace damper? Think of a chimney damper like a lid for your fireplace. It is located in the flue, which is the air shaft through which smoke and air can travel in and out of your chimney, and is located above the firebox where the fire is made, and is in use both when fireplace is active and inactive.
Should the damper be open all the way?
When should the damper be kept open or closed? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Close the damper when the fire is extinguished. This will prevent the heated air from escaping through the chimney and will keep water and other debris out of the flue.
Should dampers be open or closed in summer?
HVAC Damper Open Or Closed In Summer/Winter In most homes, dampers going to the upstairs are open in the summer and closed in the winter. By closing the dampers to the upstairs in the winter, it allows for the heat to rise naturally after first being introduced into the lower levels of the home.
How do I know if my fireplace flue is open?
Feeling the breeze is another method you can use to know whether you have an open or closed flue. Locate your hand inside the fireplace and wait to notice if you can feel the air flowing. When the flue is open, air will flow down the chimney.
What’s the difference between a damper and a flue?
A damper is located in the flue of your chimney. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation.
What happens if flue is closed?
Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home.
Is it OK to leave the flue open overnight?
The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is important to leave the flue open overnight. This enables a draft to carry the compound out into the atmosphere, instead of sinking down the chimney and saturating the room.
Does damper need to be open for gas fireplace?
One caution, though: Fireplaces with installed gas logs are required to have the damper open at all times. That’s either because a pilot light is constantly burning under the logs or because the homeowner might forget to open the damper when he or she turns on the fire. Those gases contain carbon monoxide.
How can I get more heat from my fireplace?
5 Tips to Getting More Warmth Out of Your Fireplace Do a damper check. If you think about it logically, the chimney allows airflow so that smoke can escape when you light a fire, but when not in use, you’re letting the warm air from your home out. Caulk it. Keep heat in. Install a heat exchanger. Seal it.
How do I know if my damper is bad?
Put the damper into an open position and check the registers once again to see if the airflow starts. If the damper is closed and you are feeling low airflow, or none at all, it is most likely a bad damper.
Are dampers bad for HVAC?
Bottom line: You probably shouldn’t close your air supply vents. Excessive static pressure inside an HVAC system is never a good thing. Closing too many air supply dampers could put you in the static pressure “danger zone.”.
How do I adjust my summer dampers?
To properly adjust your HVAC dampers, follow these steps: Turn your fan to the ON position. Open every damper all the way. Open every register in every room of your house. Determine which duct serves which rooms. Make initial adjustments. Monitor and adjust again. Label the damper position.
What is the lever on the side of my fireplace?
What is this? The second handle you may find in your fireplace (usually located on the left inside panel) is a control lever for the outside air kit. When burning your fireplace, the outside air kit lever should always be in the open (or up) position.
What is a fireplace lintel bar?
A lintel bar (pictured to the right) is a small bracket of structural steel located on the top of the opening of your masonry fireplace. A steel fireplace lintel is intended to support the first row of bricks or stones over the firebox opening while the mortar dries.
