Just a bit of FYI.. if you home is 2 story and you leave the damper open and don’t have glass doors the flow through the damper, and this is with fireplace … He enjoys the outdoors, playing guitar and spending time with their five grandchildren. There are several factors that can influence what should and should not be done. The primary purpose of a damper is to seal off the firebox from the chimney. Warm air from your home will not be lost up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. May 25, 2019 - Explore Julia Tabb's board "Fireplace damper" on Pinterest. Place it inside your fireplace, near the top section. The flap is located inside the chimney flue found inside the chimney. Often, a damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position. When the damper is closed, it slows the loss of heat that would otherwise go up the chimney. One thing that Joe particularly finds fulfilling is explaining fairly complex subjects to fireplace customers and steering them to specific products that will satisfy their objectives. – gas fireplace damper open or closed. The cable is mounted to a handle and bolted to the inside wall of the fireplace. The damper in many ZC fireplaces is a simple metal plate that pivots open and pivots closed when a lever is pushed or pulled. You should be able to reach up and touch the closed damper. An open damper will pull up the smoke and flames upward, while a closed damper will not. You can inspect your fireplace to see if it’s open by: Feeling for a Draft: Place your hands into the fireplace (when no fire is currently lit), and feel for a draft of air coming from the top. Conversely, turning the key clockwise to the right, the damper is closed. When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. A top-mount damper seals the chimney cap. Close the damper when the fire is … And while older wood-burning fireplaces can function safely without a damper (gas fireplaces cannot), a chimney without a damper is just a gaping hole in the roof of your house. It blocks off the air flow when it's closed and lets air in when it's open. Hanging Solid Brass Fireplace Damper Open Closed Sign. Simply close the damper (or door) tight, and the heat is contained in the house. To close it, you simply lift the handle up again, pull the damper shut, and set the handle back into position on the ratchet. By turning this key all the way to the left, the damper will open. . Throat dampers are a common option because they’re convenient. The handle is usually just above and inside the fireplace. When a fireplace is not in … When there are coals and embers still in the fireplace, close the damper to stop heat from escaping through the chimney. But, what do I do with my older home’s fireplace that has a missing or badly damaged damper? By pushing it away from you, the damper is closed. The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. The problem is that no one wants to stay up to wait for the fire to burn down so you can close the damper and go to bed. When you are using your fireplace, it needs to be open so that smoke can vent outside. 4.6 out of 5 stars 5. Pro-Tech Chimney: Your Fireplace, Flue, and Chimney Experts When the damper is closed, it slows the loss of heat that would otherwise go up the chimney. There’s nothing like unsolicited positive feedback from a happy customer! You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. Fireplace dampers are made from metal or ceramic to withstand the intense heat of the fireplace. What to Do with a Leaky Chimney, Chimney Damper Repair | How to Identify a Broken Damper. (No one enjoys paying to heat the outdoors.) They can warp, twist or rust and begin to deteriorate. If the flue is open, the smoke will go out of the chimney without any problem. The chimney is effectively sealed at its top, not in the fireplace. Years and years of heating up to high temperatures and cooling down can take a toll on any damper. Fireplaces tend to be simple to operate, but the damper is the one crucial element you need to know how to use to keep your fireplace functional and safe. in the picture above you see an open masonry chimney damper and the picture below shows it closed. But is halfway open good enough? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Opening a fireplace damper depends on the model of the fireplace, but generally there is a lever that slides back and forth to open and close it. Hanging fireplace damper open closed sign solid. If you can’t see daylight at the top, the damper is closed. This is not only a fire hazard, it can also cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. help!? The closed damper also protects from water and debris. The open position is the default, and you will have to pull on a chain or cable and work against the spring to close the damper. Close it when it's not it use. Start a small but smoky fire in your fireplace, say using papers or tinder alone. A chimney damper prevents conditioned (warmed or cooled) house air from escaping through the flue when you’re not using the fireplace. Using a damper is a simple concept. Start by identifying what kind of damper is in your chimney if you’re wondering if it’s open or closed. Your house will quickly fill with smoke if you start a fire with a closed damper. Cold air stored in the chimney flue can give you the impression that the damper is open. You’ve got to make sure that vents (ph) up the house; it’s not slightly open, it’s all the way open. You can also listen for the rush of air to see if the damper is open or closed. (See a diagram of the parts of a chimney here.)) On some zero clearance, factory built fireplaces, the damper is a little different than the two mentioned above. There are two main types of chimney dampers. May 25, 2019 - Explore Julia Tabb's board "Fireplace damper" on Pinterest. Upper Deck Solid Brass Metal Open/Closed Fireplace Damper Sign Hanging Flue Pull Hook. The damper is a vent that controls airflow in and out of the chimney. Here are different methods you can use to determine if the damper is open or closed. This damper, located at the top of the firebox, swings down to seal the throat shut when you don’t use the fireplace. Hanging Fireplace Damper Open Closed Sign Solid Br . Although all fireplace users understand how important it is to have the damper open when the fireplace is in use, few understand that it is equally important to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. A closed damper also stops cold drafts from coming down the chimney. Even when a fireplace damper is closed, the sealing is often not very effective. Because ventless gas logs are burned with the damper closed, all of the heat they produce will come into … wood or gas . Gas logs come in 2 varieties: 1) Ventless gas logs are designed to be burned with the damper closed and are rated as ventless gas heaters. Light up a fire. Wonder if your chimney is in good shape? Since the pilot light runs continuously and there’s a risk of forgetting to open the damper before the gas logs are lit, the damper must be kept slightly ajar by installing a small C-clamp. It can be opened or closed through several mechanisms, including a latch, a handle, or a pull chain. The damper will immediately spring back up if you don’t secure the chain. Contact us today to have one of our skilled chimney sweeps evaluate your chimney and fireplace. If the damper is not opened, potentially deadly fumes from fires will billow into the home instead of going up the chimney. If you have a masonry fireplace, odds are high the damper will be one of two types. Start a fire. How to tell if the damper is open or closed depends on the type of damper you have. When the fireplace is in use, the damper (whether it’s a throat damper just above the firebox or a top-mount damper at the top of the chimney) must be open. If the damper is closed, smoke will come out of the chimney and enter the room. Like the fireplace itself, the damper is an exceptionally simple concept. If you’re burning wood, keep it fully open until all the burning embers are completely burned out. Are you unsure as to whether the damper is open or closed? A fireplace damper is a simple flap that opens and closes inside the flue of your fireplace. Do not close a fireplace damper until the fire is completely out. This is to allow smoke and other combustion by-products to safely exit the fireplace, up the chimney. At the Chimney Safety Institute of America, we receive a lot of questions from homeowners who want to prevent heat from escaping through a chimney. Furthermore, should the damper be open or closed on a gas fireplace? Only 3 left in stock - order soon. 00. The installation of this device is best left to a professional. There is a spring that keeps the top-mount damper open, and the controlling cable or handle is usually attached to the fireplace wall. 4.6 out of 5 stars 45. . A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house. Insulated or air-cooled chimneys are required with this type of equipment. When I had the temp gauge close to the top it was reading up to 600+ and that was with the damper closed. You can also listen for the rush of air to see if the damper is open or closed. 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