How do I know if my wood stove damper 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.
Should flue damper be open or closed?
The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should always be closed. An open damper is like an open window, allowing large amounts of heat from the home to escape.
What happens if you leave damper open?
Leaving your damper open during the summer forces your air conditioner to work harder in order to compensate for the incoming warm air. This causes an uneccessary spike in your utility bills, and if your HVAC system is old and overworked, might even force you to pay for a repair or replacement.
How do you know if the flue is open or closed?
Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney, it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don’t feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.
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.
Should fireplace 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.
Which way do you open a flue?
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 it OK to leave damper open overnight?
Leave the damper open overnight. Yes, you will lose some heat up the flue, but you will save the occupants of the home from poisoning by colorless, odorless carbon monoxide. Only when they are completely cold to the touch is it safe to shut the fireplace damper.
Which way is damper open?
clockwise
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.
What happens when you close the damper on a wood stove?
By closing the damper, it will reduce the oxygen levels in the chimney, and you’ll have a longer fire. According to Northeastern Chimney, this also creates a downdraft. This downdraft will force the heated air back into the fireplace, which is what will heat your room.
When to open fireplace damper before starting fire?
Before you start a fire, any type of fire . . . . wood or gas . . . . always fully open the damper. If you’re burning wood, keep it fully open until all the burning embers are completely burned out.
How can I tell if my wood stove is open or closed?
To be able to tell if your damper is in a closed or open position, you need to find the damper controls. A traditional wood stove usually has a throat damper at the base of the chimney flue. Look for a metal handle with a rotary-style screw or a latch in the center of the chimney throat.
What happens if you open a chimney damper?
Opening the damper allows air and oxygen to get into the fireplace and build the fire An open damper also allows pollutants like soot, smoke, carbon monoxide, and other harmful gasses to escape through the chimney instead of entering your home.