How do I know if my fireplace flue is open or closed?
How do I know if my fireplace 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.
Should fireplace flue be open or closed when not in use?
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. Keeping a fireplace damper closed when it’s not in use will result in savings on heating expenses.
Should flue damper be 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.
Which position is the flue open?
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 close a fireplace vent?
How to Close the Chimney Flue
- Turn off the gas to the fireplace or wait for wood to burn out.
- Put on work gloves to keep your hands free of soot.
- Push the lever up slightly to disengage it from its support tab and then pull it away from the tab horizontally as the damper lowers into a closed position.
What happens if you leave the flue open?
Unfortunately, that open damper means house air is running up the flue or cold air might be traveling down. Another cautionary note: A wood-burning fire must be completely out and the ashes cold before the damper can be shut or other sealing is put into place. The hazard is carbon-monoxide poisoning.
How do I know if my ventilation damper is open or closed?
If you are looking at a duct that is coming off the furnace and going straight up like it is going to the upstairs, and the wing is in the same direction as the duct, it is open. If the wing is in the opposite or vertical position to the ductwork, then the damper is closed.
How do you close a flue?
Is a damper and flue the same thing?
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.
How can I tell if my chimney is open or closed?
Here are simple techniques on how to tell if a chimney flue is open or closed. Start a small but smoky fire in your fireplace, say using papers or tinder alone. If the flue is open, the smoke will go out of the chimney without any problem. If the damper is closed, then the smoke will come out of the chimney and fill out the room.
How can I tell if my fireplace damper is open or closed?
Some sources suggest you can check whether your damper is open or closed by simply starting a fire in your fireplace. Starting a fire with a closed damper is extremely dangerous and should never be used as a testing method. Having smoke fill your house is more than an unpleasant experience.
Is it safe to open a chimney flue after starting a fire?
However, it can be a safety risk and an energy waster if not used properly. Before lighting up that firewood, ensure the fireplace flue is open or else the smoke and gases will fill up your room. At the same time, if the opening of the flue is too wide after starting the fire, you end up wasting a lot of energy through convection.