How do you know if your fireplace is open?
Perform a visual check. Using a flashlight, poke your head inside the fireplace to look up into the chimney. If you have a throat damper, you can tell if it is closed if you see a barrier above your head. If you can see up into the flue, the damper is open.
How do you open and close a flue?
If there’s a lever, move it side to side or up and down to release it before sliding it horizontally. This motion will cause the damper to slowly lower in to the closed position, so the lever will remain loose. For pull chains, pull the longer one to extricate the damper and the shorter to close the flue.
Is a damper the same as a flue?
The flue is simply the open middle of the chimney that the smoke goes up. Dampers are sometimes miss-called flues or flutes, but they are something entirely different than the flue. A damper is intended to shut off- either fully or partially- the chimney flue.
What if my fireplace doesn’t have a damper?
A draft eliminator, also called a chimney balloon, can quickly fix a damper issue. If it tumbles down, take some air out until it sits firmly in the chimney. When you plan to have a fire, remember to remove the draft eliminator or the room where the fireplace sits will quickly fill up with smoke.
What is the purpose of a flue damper?
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. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.
Do I need a flue damper?
Flue dampers are required on double door stoves when burned with doors open and screen in place. The damper then becomes your only control to slow the fire. It’s good to have one on any stove in case while loading you get a log stuck and can’t shut the door right away while you fight it.
How do you slow down a chimney draft?
You can use a chimney balloon. A chimney balloon is essentially a balloon that you inflate in your chimney that creates a snug fit, thereby preventing hot air escaping up out of the chimney or cold air dropping down it, helping to prevent draughts in your home.
Where should I install a flue damper?
Normally you want a flue damper in a vertical section, 18-24 inches above the top of the firebox. I put mine a full 24 inches above; over the years I’ve learned the hard way that putting it too close to the firebox causes the control rod to overheat and bend, and the spring gets weak so the damper won’t stay set.
Is damper open or closed?
You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house.
How do I know if my wood stove damper is open or closed?
Conduct a visual check. 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.
Should the damper be open or closed on a gas fireplace?
Because gas-log fires produce copious amounts of carbon monoxide, they have to vent outside in a fail-safe manner. That’s why there is, or should be, a keep-open device attached to the damper in gas-log fireplaces. Do not close a fireplace damper until the fire is completely out.
How do I close my fireplace damper?
The handle has grooves in it to hold the damper in place. To open or close the damper, lift the handle and push or pull to move the damper to the desired position. Replace the handle when the damper is in place.
How do I circulate my hot air from my fireplace?
If You Have a Fireplace or Wood-Burning or Pellet-Burning Furnace… First, if you also have forced air, turn the fan on to help circulate heat. Make sure your ceiling fans rotate clockwise so they pull cool air up off the floor and push warm air down. And also keep them running at their lowest speed.