The flue damper should be wide open when opening the fireplace door. This will prevent smoke from escaping into the room. If your wood burning fireplace has glass doors, ensure that they are fully open when starting a fire and fully closed when the fire is burning.
Should a fireplace flue be open or closed when burning?
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. It is important to open and close the fireplace flue at the appropriate time.
Should the flue damper be open or closed on a fireplace?
The flue damper should be wide open when opening the fireplace door. This will prevent smoke from escaping into the room. If your wood burning fireplace has glass doors, ensure that they are fully open when starting a fire and fully closed when the fire is burning.
How do you open the flue on a gas fireplace?
How to Open Your Fireplace Flue There are different types of controls to open and close your fireplace flue. Throat dampers usually have a rod, and you will push it or lift it to open the damper. They could also have a knob that rotates, and they are usually located on the outside of the fireplace.
What does the flue do in a chimney?
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. You should keep the fireplace flue closed when you aren’t using it.
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 happens if fireplace flue is closed?
If the chimney flue is open, smoke will come out of the chimney with no issues. However, if the flue isn't open, the smoke won't go through a closed flue and up the chimney. Instead, it'll force its way into your home, filling the room with smoke.
Why do you close the flue on a fireplace?
You should close the damper on your fireplace once the fire and embers have all burned out. This prevents warm air in your house from escaping out the chimney. You should open the damper before lighting a fire and close it once the fire is done burning.
When can you close a fireplace flue?
A fireplace damper should always be kept open while the fire is burning. Furthermore, keep the damper open until all the embers are completely out; since smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide can enter the house. Once the ember bed is entirely out, close the damper.
When should you open the flue?
During the part of the year you are using your wood-burning fireplace, open the damper before you light the fire. If necessary to keep the fire burning well and smoke-free, you may adjust the damper into a semi-open position. Shut the damper when the fire is completely, absolutely out.
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 long leave flue open?
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.
Does cold air come down the chimney?
Fireplace and chimney basics The path for smoke also is a path for air. When a fireplace isn't in use, cold air from outside can come down the chimney into the home, and warm interior air can escape up through the flue.
How do you use a wood fireplace?
Step-by-Step Directions on How To Use a FireplacePut Safety First. ... Other steps in safety include: ... Open the Damper. ... Use Only Seasoned Firewood & Kindling. ... Build an Upside-Down Fire. ... Prime the Flue, If Necessary. ... Contact Burlington Fireplace & Solar.
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.
Can you leave a wood burning fireplace on overnight?
You should never leave your fireplace burning and unattended overnight while you sleep. This represents a major safety hazard. A fireplace should never be left burning if it is going to be unattended in any capacity. This includes during the night while you sleep.
How do you keep a fire going all night in a fireplace?
11 Ways To Keep A Fire Going In An Open FireplaceEnsure That The Damper Is Fully Open. ... Warm The Chimney. ... Maintain The Air Supply. ... Build The Fire Correctly. ... Only Burn Wood That Is Dry Enough. ... Burn Room Temperature Wood. ... Burn Hardwood Logs. ... Add A Couple of Logs At A Time.More items...•
What happens if you don't open the flue on a gas fireplace?
Our research shows that the flue on a gas fireplace should remain open during use or when the pilot light is lit. If the flue is closed in either instance, you risk a greater chance of carbon monoxide poisoning or a spark induced structure fire due to a buildup of toxins emitted by propane or natural gas burners.
Do you leave flue open gas fireplace?
You need to leave your chimney's damper partially open to vent the carbon monoxide that the gas fire produces, so much of the heat generated by a vented gas log set goes up the chimney.
Can you run a gas fireplace with the damper closed?
somewhat like the way a gas range in a kitchen works. Since there is little or no exhaust, they can be burned with the damper closed. The beauty of this type of system is that 99.9% of the heat produced by the gas logs goes into the room, so they produce substantially more heat than their vented counter-parts.
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.
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 happens if the flue damper is left open?
Or if the damper of the flue is left open when there is no fire, you could be wasting energy and increasing your electric bill. Fortunately, operating the fireplace flue damper takes little skill. Advertisement.
How to feel for a flue?
If it's dark out or you're not sure, you can reach your hand up to feel for the flue. (Make sure there has not been a fire recently as the flue gets hot.) If the flue is open, you'll be able to reach your hand up the chimney. Once you've determined the status of the flue damper, remember the position of the lever or chains so you'll always know ...
What Is a Chimney Damper?
A damper is a metal plate located in the chimney that you maneuver to manage ventilation and keep out rain and small animals. The flue is a clay or metal liner in the chimney through which smoke flows when you light a fire in your fireplace. A closed damper will restrict airflow and create a safety issue. Smoke will enter your home rather than flowing outside.
What does a damper do to a chimney?
When closed, dampers prevent warm or cool air from escaping the flue. Chimneys with damaged or improperly functioning dampers will cause substantial energy loss in your home. Most dampers have a chain or handle that you use to open and close them.
When to close a flue damper?
Close the flue damper when there is no fire. When you're fire is out or during seasons that you don't have fires, keep the flue damper shut to prevent heat or cooling loss. It will help you save energy too. Don't manipulate the flue damper when a fire is burning or a fire has just been extinguished.
Where is the pulley located on a fireplace?
They are most often found at the front top part of the fireplace . Often you can see them just by looking directly at the fire place. If not, you'll need to poke your head into the fireplace and look up.
Is the damper on the flue open?
Make sure the damper on the flue is fully open when lighting a fire. A fire on a cold night keeps the family home warm and cozy. Without knowledge of how to operate the damper on the flue, however, you could end up with a house full of smoke. Or if the damper of the flue is left open when there is no fire, you could be wasting energy ...
How to Open a Fireplace Flue?
Note that the method you use depends on the fireplace type you have and its construction.
Why do we need flues in fireplaces?
Flues play an essential role in your safety and the efficiency of the fireplace. As such, always ensure that yours is open by following the above steps.
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.
When Should the Flue Be Open?
Attached to the indoor fireplace end of the flue is a damper operated by a lever. The damper can be closed or open. The damper should always be open when a fire is burning in the fireplace. If a fire is lit and the damper is closed, the gas and debris have nowhere to go but into the house, causing a smoky situation.
When Can the Flue Be Closed?
You can close the damper when there’s no fire in the fireplace. This will keep cold air from coming in, and you can more effectively manage the temperature in your home.
What if the Damper is Open, But You Still Have Smoke Coming In?
You likely have a blockage higher up, possibly creosote buildup, or a small animal, in which case you should call a professional.
What If the Damper Gets Stuck?
The damper can get jammed in a closed position due to rust or soot buildup. When this happens, you can use a wire brush and scrub vigorously. Make sure you’re wearing safety goggles and old clothes.
Indianapolis Fireplace Maintenance and Repairs
If ever you’re in doubt about how to address problems with your flue or damper, don’t hesitate to contact Brick + Ember Outfitters of Indianapolis at 317-500-1250. Or make an appointment right from our website. We’re happy to answer all of your questions about your fireplace and help you with any fireplace maintenance or repair needs.
What Position is Open on a Fireplace Flue?
A fireplace flue is a vertical shaft that connects the firebox to the chimney. The purpose of the flue is to create a draft so that smoke and combustion gases can be drawn up and out of the firebox.
How Do I Make Sure the Flue is Open?
If you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, it’s important to make sure the flue is open before lighting a fire. Otherwise, the fire could start to smoke and fill up your home with harmful fumes. The first step is to take a look at the flue itself. If it’s a metal flue, you should be able to see daylight through the opening at the top.
Is My Fireplace Flue Open Or Closed?
If you’re unsure whether or not your fireplace flue is open or closed, take a look at the damper. If the damper is open, then the flue is most likely open as well. Another way to tell if the flue is open is to look up into the chimney. If you see daylight, then the flue is definitely open!
How Do You Close a Fireplace Flue?
Assuming you would like tips on how to close a fireplace flue:If your fireplace has an automatic damper, simply push the button or handle to the closed position.
How to Tell If Flue is Open on Gas Fireplace?
If you have a gas fireplace, it’s important to make sure that the flue is open before lighting a fire. Otherwise, all of the heat will go up the chimney and out of your home. Here are a few ways to tell if your flue is open: 1. Take a look at the damper. If it’s open, you should be able to see daylight through it.
Fireplace Damper Half Open?
If you have a fireplace, you know that there is a damper that opens and closes to let the smoke out. But did you know that if your damper is only half open, it can actually cause some problems?When your fireplace damper is only half open, it doesn’t allow enough airflow. This can cause the fire to smolder and produce a lot of smoke.
How to Open Chimney Flue?
Assuming you would like a blog post discussing how to open a chimney flue: If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it’s important to open the flue before lighting a fire.
What is Actually a Gas Fireplace Flue?
A gas fireplace is made up of numerous components, one of which is the flue. Basically, this is a pipe, ductwork, or a chimney that allows gas to escape without making the fireplace itself lose its heat.
How Do I Open and Close a Fireplace Flue?
It’s very important to check whether this flue is open before turning on the installed gas logs. You should be doing this for your own safety – if you try to adjust the fireplace damper once the gas logs are already ignited, you’ll be risking burning yourself.
Is There a Flue on Every Gas Fireplace?
Due to the fact that not all gas fireplaces are the same, not every single one of these appliances comes with a flue. They can be separated into two main categories: vented gas fireplaces and ventless gas fireplaces (also known as vent-free fireplaces).
When Should I Close the Flue on My Gas Fireplace?
In general, one should never close the flue while this appliance is in operation. And even if the fireplace is not currently in operation but its pilot light is shining, you should still not close its flue.
The Takeaway
When compared to conventional fireplaces, gas-operated fireplaces are easier to maintain and excel in terms of efficiency – they’re a fantastic addition to any home.
Why do we need a flue on a wood burning stove?
The flue on a wood burning stove helps to remove waste gases and smoke from a stove out of your home.
How to tell if a wood stove has a flue?
You’ll be able to identify the flue on a wood burning as it’s the pipe that protrudes out the top or back of the stove and typically continuous up out of your home either through the ceiling, up through the chimney or up the outside of an external wall.
What is the flue on a wood stove called?
Here’s what the flue looks like on our wood stove and multi fuel stove: The part that sticks out the top of the stove can also be known as the stovepipe. As our stoves were installed within open fireplaces, both the flues on our stoves continue upwards through the chimney. As the stovepipe extends up into a chimney, ...
What is the name of the pipe that connects to the flue liner?
After the stovepipe passes through the register plate, it typically connects to a flue liner.
Where is the flue collar on a wood stove?
As the flues on our stoves stick directly out the top, they can be seen from the inside, just behind the baffle plate ( more about baffle plates here ). The flue is located just behind the baffle.
What is the seal on a stovepipe?
As the stovepipe extends up into a chimney, it passes what’s known as a register plate or closure plate, which acts a seal at the base of the chimney for safety and aesthetic reasons.
What is a damper on a stove?
A damper is essentially a circular metal plate that sits inside the flue, with a handle that sticks out through the wall of the flue. The damper can be rotated using the handle ...
What is the chimney called when you have an open fireplace?
The flue is also sometimes called the chimney lining when used with an open fireplace. You may think that it is your chimney that pulls the smoke up and out of your house when you’re burning fire, but this is incorrect. Technically, the chimney is the cocoon of bricks and/or stone that surrounds the metal flue, insulating it from more flammable house materials like wood siding or roof tiles.
What is a flue?
The flue itself is any metal tube through which ash, sparks, smoke, and gases are drawn up and away from the interior of your house. If a flue is used with a fireplace, it releases these through a chimney opening. If used with a furnace or wood stove, it releases them through a vent on the roof or side of the building.
How to check if a fireplace damper is open?
You can visually check your fireplace damper by sticking your head into an (unlit!) firebox and looking upwards. If your fireplace has a throat damper, the metal plate of the damper will be just above your head. If it has a top-mount damper instead, perform your check during the day—if the top of your chimney is dark, the damper is closed, and if you can see light coming in, it’s open.
Why do you close the damper on a fireplace?
Closing the damper when a fire is not burning seals off the fireplace from the outside. This keeps the conditioned (heated or cooled) air inside your home from escaping and also prevents precipitation, wind gusts, and intrepid animals from making their way down the flue tube into your home.
How to make a wood stove burn faster?
These stoves are fully manual so setting the temperature of the flames is more hands-on than adjusting a dial. By opening the damper wider, you can make the fire in wood stoves burn faster. By keeping closing the damper partway to make the opening smaller, you’ll make it burn hotter and slower.
Where is the damper on a wood stove?
On a furnace or wood stove, the damper will be at the base of the flue but not visible from the outside. In an open fireplace, it comes in two styles: throat damper and top-mount damper. A throat damper is positioned at the bottom of the flue and about a foot above the firebox in an open fireplace, just out of sight from the outside of the fireplace. A top-mount damper will be at the top of the flue underneath the chimney cap.
What is a damper in a flue?
It is a thick plate made of cast iron with a metal handle or chain to allow it to be opened when a fire is burning and closed when one is not.
What is a flue in a fireplace?
A flue is a pipe that extends out of a fireplace to the outside of a house, to vent any waste gases, smoke and small particles from a fire that would have otherwise been released into the home.
How do you know if your chimney damper is open?
Position yourself just outside of your fireplace and lean in under your chimney. You may be able to see an unflattering metal thing just within the opening of the chimney or flue. If you can see up through the damper to your chimney then you know that the damper is open. If you can only see a metal plate then your damper is closed.
What Is A Fireplace Damper?
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.
What is the purpose of a chimney damper?
Preventing warm air or air conditioned air from being lost out of the chimney when the fireplace isn’t in use and the damper is closed. Preventing rain, animals and debris from entering the fireplace via the chimney when the damper is closed.
What is a dampening effect on a fireplace?
In this case, the dampening effect of a fireplace damper is to control: The flow of hot air, smoke and gases from a fire in a fireplace or stove into a chimney or flue. The flow of air down into a fireplace or stove from a chimney or flue. By controlling how open or closed a fireplace damper is you can inhibit the flow of any air, ...
Why do you need a damper for a fireplace?
The main reason you would want a fireplace damper is to help prevent the warmth from leaving your home during the winter months, especially when the central heating is on. A damper can also be useful in the summer months. A closed damper will prevent air conditioned rooms from venting the cooler air out of your home.
Where do I put dampers on a wood burning stove?
Dampers can be installed within throat of the chimney, at the top of the chimney, or within the flue of a stove. I’ve looked into getting a fireplace damper installed, because as I mentioned earlier, our fireplace doesn’t have a damper.
