Fireplace Damper Open Or Closed

A chain that s dangling freely and unsecured is a telltale sign that the damper is open.

Fireplace damper open or closed.

A functional damper opens and closes easily just by using the handle or lever. On some zero clearance factory built fireplaces the damper is a little different than the two mentioned above. The second type of damper is operated by a lever normally mounted on the right inside wall of the fireplace. Give yours a check to see open or closed it can help save money during winter keeping it closed when not in use.

Close it when it s not it use. When you aren t using your fireplace it should be closed to prevent heated and cooled air in your home from escaping. A fireplace damper is a little metal flap that sits inside your flue. This is not true for every fireplace some especially pre fab type the damper is either open or closed.

Air can flow both ways so outside air can come into your home and the heated air from your home can escape through an open damper. If it s hooked to the side of the fireplace wall then this probably means that the damper is closed. It blocks off the air flow when it s closed and lets air in when it s open. Fireplace dampers come in two main types.

When you are using your fireplace it needs to be open so that smoke can vent outside. The chain can be found on the inside of your fireplace. A fireplace damper is a device that can be manually opened or closed with the purpose of allowing gases and other byproducts from a fireplace to be safely vented from a building when open but to also prevent air from escaping the building when a fireplace isn t being used. A closed damper also stops cold drafts from coming down the chimney.

A chimney damper prevents conditioned warmed or cooled house air from escaping through the flue when you re not using the fireplace. A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use.

You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. Conversely turning the key clockwise to the right the damper is closed. You can also tell if your damper is open or closed just by listening.

The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. To be up to code all fireplaces must have a damper. Chimney top and throat. Any damper that requires extra work to move is considered nonoperational and should be repaired.