Flues should always be kept open since they’re responsible for ventilating your fireplace. Closing the flue while lighting a fire will push all the smoke and fumes inside your home, so always keep it open, especially if you often light a fire.
Full Answer
Should the fireplace flue be open or closed?
You should keep the fireplace flue closed when you aren’t using it. This will prevent hot or cold air from escaping up the chimney. However, you should make sure that it is completely open before starting the fire and whenever you are using the fireplace. If you light a fire and it is closed, the smoke will enter your house.
Should a fireplace flue damper always be completely open?
Your flue should always be open when the fireplace is operating. 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 can close the damper when. The damper should always be open when a fire is burning in the fireplace.
How do I cover a fireplace opening?
“You can also cover/seal the fireplace opening with brick or drywall if you want to eliminate the fireplace altogether,” says Blaken. You could build a drywall fireplace cover or hire a pro to do it for you. Some drywall fireplace covers act like a plug and can be removed from the opening at will. This DIY fireplace insert is an attractive option. Closing a fireplace with brick is a bigger commitment.
Which way opens the flue?
Open, Sesame. The method of opening and closing the flue depends on the type of fireplace and how it was constructed and installed in the room. Modern fireplaces often have a handle installed above or inside the opening. You turn the handle to a vertical position to open the flue damper and back to a horizontal position to close it.
How to Open a Fireplace Flue?
What is the purpose of a fireplace flue?
How Open Should a Flue Be?
What Happens When You Leave the Flue Open?
How Do You Re-line Chimney Flues?
Why is it important to keep a fireplace open?
How to tell if a fireplace is open or closed?
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How do I know if my fireplace flue is open or closed?
Simply stick your head in the fireplace and look up. If you have a throat damper, the closed damper immediately above your head will block your vision. You should be able to reach up and touch the closed damper. If you have a top-mount damper, check for daylight at the top of the flue.
How do you know if the flue is open?
Feeling the breeze is another method you can use to know whether you have an open or closed flue. Locate your hand inside the fireplace and wait to notice if you can feel the air flowing. When the flue is open, air will flow down the chimney.
In what position is a fireplace flue open?
Are you unsure as to whether the damper is open or closed? Stick your hand near the opening of the fireplace. If you feel air breeze against your hand, then it's safe to say that the damper is open. If there's a clear absence of a draft, then it's closed.
Should I leave my fireplace flue open?
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.
What are the two levers on my fireplace?
One lever opens and closes the damper, allowing the smoke to come up through the flue of the chimney, while a second lever opens and closes the air vents, allowing fresh combustion air to enter and fuel the fire. This prevents smoke from going back inside the room while avoiding CO poisoning.
Is a damper and flue the same thing?
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.
How do I test my fireplace flue?
1:282:52How to Inspect a Wood Burning Fireplace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the flashing around the chimney is intact and installed properly be sure the chimney capMoreMake sure the flashing around the chimney is intact and installed properly be sure the chimney cap and grate are clear of debris.
How does fireplace flue work?
The flue directs exhaust gases and debris from a fireplace upward to vent outdoors into the atmosphere. The flue is effective because it makes use of the stack effect that happens when there's a significant temperature differential between the indoor and outdoor ends of the flue.
How do you close a fireplace flue?
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. If your fireplace has pull chains, pull the longer chain to disengage the damper and then pull the shorter chain to close the flue.
What happens if flue is closed?
Close it when it's not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home.
Can you let a fireplace burn overnight?
You should never leave a fireplace burning overnight, regardless of the source. Before you go to sleep, be sure to put out the fire and let the materials cool down. Unattended fire is a hazard, and even the slightest gust of wind can reignite it or blow embers to a nearby flammable material.
How much heat lost with open flue?
According to the Department of Energy, an average home spends approximately $600 per year for heating. What's more, between 80 and 90 percent of the heat produced by wood burned in an open fireplace is lost up the chimney.
What is an open flue?
An open flue typically consists of a pipe to carry combustion gases from the appliance, whilst fresh air enters the appliance via the casing. This means that, for safe operation, additional air vents are required in the room where the appliance is installed to re-supply fresh air.
How do you 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.
How do you test a flue?
The smoke test involves the following steps:If there is an appliance fitted at the base of the chimney, burn some newspaper in the grate for 2 to 3 minutes to establish a flue draw. ... Place at least two flue testing smoke pellets on a brick in the opening at the base of the flue or in the appliance if it is fitted.More items...
How do I test my fireplace flue?
1:282:52How to Inspect a Wood Burning Fireplace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMake sure the flashing around the chimney is intact and installed properly be sure the chimney capMoreMake sure the flashing around the chimney is intact and installed properly be sure the chimney cap and grate are clear of debris.
How to make sure flue is open?
If you have a top mount damper, you should pull the chain. When you pull it down, then the damper will spring open as long as you don’t secure the chain. This is a great way to make sure that the flue is open anytime you plan to start a fire.
Why should you adjust the flue on a fireplace?
The flue in your chimney lets you choose how much air flows up the chimney when using your fireplace. The flue should be adjusted to make sure that your fire is safe and efficient. You can adjust the damper to prevent air from escaping when you are not using the fireplace as well.
How to tell if a chimney is open or closed?
One way to find out is to feel for a draft. When the flue is open, the air will circulate through the chimney, and you should be able to feel air that is the temperature of the outdoor air. You can also take a look in the chimney. Look up the fireplace to see if you can see the sky outside. If you have a throat damper, you will be able to touch it to see if it is open or closed.
Should you keep the flue open when you aren't using it?
You should keep the fireplace flue closed when you aren’t using it. This will prevent hot or cold air from escaping up the chimney. However, you should make sure that it is completely open before starting the fire and whenever you are using the fireplace. If you light a fire and it is closed, the smoke will enter your house. Keep the flue open until the fire is completely out.
Can you light a fire without opening the fireplace flue?
Lighting a fire without opening the fireplace flue will make smoke spill into the house, which can be very dangerous.
Is it important to open and close the flue?
It is important to open and close the fireplace flue at the appropriate time. I wasn’t aware of this. We enjoyed our fireplace this winter many times, and we are now in summer, and I realized that I left the flue open. So I researched the topic, and this is what I learned.
Should the Fireplace Flue Be Open or Closed?
You should keep the fireplace flue closed when you aren’t using it, but it is very important to open it all the way before you light a fire. You should keep it completely open until the fire is out all the way. When you aren’t using the fireplace, closing the flue will keep hot or cooled air in the home. An open flue is similar to opening a window, so keep it closed.
When should a fireplace damper be 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. Keeping a fireplace damper closed when it's not in use will result in ...
Why do you close the damper on a fireplace?
Close Damper to Save Heat. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use. Close it when it's not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home.
What is a flue damper?
A fireplace flue damper enables you to control how much air flows up your home's chimney when the fireplace is in use. Adjusting the damper allows you to burn a fire efficiently and safely. It also prevents heat from escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use.
What Really Is a Fireplace Flue?
A fireplace flue can simply be described as the tube, pipe or channel through which smoke and gases move from a combustion point (such as a fireplace) out the chimney.
What Is the Difference Between a Flue, A Vent, A Damper and A Chimney?
The best way to tell the difference between these very similar terms is to first provide a definition for each .
Why do you need to check if your fireplace damper is open?
Why? Well, an open damper will allow the smoke from the fire along with other harmful combustion byproducts to escape through the chimney and be channeled safely to the outside. An open damper also invites outside air that assists in keeping the fire alive.
Where is the damper located on a fireplace?
You can find your fireplace damper at the base of the chimney. Know that there are three main types of damper styles: Traditional dampers are located at the “throat” of the chimney, which is positioned inside the chimney’s base.
How to tell if damper is open or closed?
You can also tell if your damper is open or closed just by listening. You’d be surprised how amplified outside noises become when the damper is open. You’ll hear a whoosh of air, the passing traffic outside, and echoing from within the chimney itself.
Why does my house fill with smoke?
Your home will fill with smoke, too, because as the fire lives and breathes, there’s no place for ...
Should you check damper before starting fire?
Always Check Before You Light. Never start a fire before checking to see if the damper is open or closed. There are many ways to check to see if the damper is open or closed and after getting into the habit, it should become quite obvious. Put your safety first by taking a few moments to see the position of the damper before starting a fire ...
Is the damper on a chimney open?
If you can see up through the damper and past to your chimney’s interior, then the damper is open. If you only see the metal plate that’s blocking your line of sight, then the damper is closed.
Can you light a fireplace just yet?
Wait, don’t light your fireplace just yet . In order to be a responsible fireplace owner, the first task you must do before enjoying a fire is checking to see if the fireplace damper is open or closed.
How Do You Open or Close a Fireplace Flue?
Opening and closing a gas fireplace flue is a relatively simple process. Before you turn on the gas logs, it’s important that you always check that the flue is open. Opening the flue prior to lighting the fire is mostly for safety, as you risk burning yourself on the metal handle if you try to adjust the damper once the logs ignite.
What is a Gas Fireplace Flue?
Among the numerous component that make up a gas fireplace, the flue is essentially a chimney, ductwork, or pipe that provides a pathway for gasses to escape without the fireplace losing heat. The flue damper can be found inside the flue, resembling a metal flap. A long, thin piece of metal is attached to it, known as the lever. On the other side of the lever is a handle that can be used for closing or opening the flue damper.
What is a B vent fireplace?
Natural vent gas fireplaces, also called B-vent, sit inside of masonry fireplaces and use the accompanying chimney to remove waste air from your living spaces. Whether this chimney will have a flue liner or not typically depends on the situation and local requirements.
What is a direct vent gas fireplace?
Direct vent gas fireplaces are sealed systems that involve both the air used for combustion and waste air being vented directly to and from the outdoors. The air in a direct vent gas fireplace is entirely separate from the air in a home, meaning they need a flue in order to function.
What is the handle on a flue damper?
A long, thin piece of metal is attached to it, known as the lever. On the other side of the lever is a handle that can be used for closing or opening the flue damper. The handle is metal, appears like a long thin bar, has a hole drilled on the end, and no protective coating. There are zigzag-shaped notches cut out along the top ...
Why do you open the flue before lighting a fire?
Opening the flue prior to lighting the fire is mostly for safety, as you risk burning yourself on the metal handle if you try to adjust the damper once the logs ignite. The flue damper handle or lever should be clearly marked to indicate whether it’s “open” or “closed.”.
How to tell if a fireplace is vent free?
A good way to tell if you have a vented or vent-free fireplace is to examine the flames. Turn on the fireplace and if the flames reach above the logs and appear like a traditional wood-burning fireplace, it’s likely vented. Whereas, if the flames are smaller and have a blue cast to them, the fireplace is vent-free.
How to Open a Fireplace Flue?
Note that the method you use depends on the fireplace type you have and its construction.
What is the purpose of a fireplace flue?
Fireplace flues play an essential role in keeping the fire burning and the people around safe. They are vertical passages that allow smoke to escape.
How Open Should a Flue Be?
The flue damper should be wide open when opening the fireplace door. This will prevent smoke from escaping into the room.
What Happens When You Leave the Flue Open?
The fire continues to burn as long as the flue is open. As such, smoke and other contaminants will safely leave the chimney since that’s the purpose of a chimney flue. However, while the fire builds when the damper is open, leaving it fully open isn’t advisable as heated air can escape, which interferes with your fireplace operation.
How Do You Re-line Chimney Flues?
You can’t easily repair chimney flues once they are damaged. But, individuals can re-line them. Note that manufacturers use either flexible or rigid steel to make flue liners.
Why is it important to keep a fireplace open?
As such, it will prevent unpleasant odors produced by smoke and keep your family members safe by reducing health risks and preventing combustion. Additionally, it makes your fireplace more efficient and helps retain heat in your home, thus making it more comfortable.
How to tell if a fireplace is open or closed?
There are several ways you can tell whether yours is open or closed. For starters, you can create a small fire at the fireplace using paper. If it’s open, smoke won’t come out of your chimney. But if you see smoke, it’s probably because the flue is closed.
