A throat damper prevents cold air from entering your home by closing the bottom of your chimney. Because the throat damper is integrated into the fireplace and visible at the top of the firebox
Firebox
In a steam engine, the firebox is the area where the fuel is burned, producing heat to boil the water in the boiler. Most are somewhat box-shaped, hence the name. The hot gases generated in the firebox are pulled through a rack of tubes running through the boiler.
How does a throat damper work?
For a traditional throat damper, it’s usually operated via a handle with latches to be able to leave the damper partially open, or via a screw handle system that opens or closes the damper depending on which way it’s turned. For top mounted dampers, the handle can simply be the end of the chain that hangs down from the top of the chimney.
Where is the damper on a fireplace?
Where Is A Fireplace Damper Located? A traditional fireplace damper will usually be positioned just inside the base of the chimney (called the ‘throat’ of the chimney), at the top of the fireplace. This allows the damper to be hidden from away from view, but also easily accessible from within the fireplace.
What is a chimney damper and what does it do?
The chimney damper is a metal plate that sits inside or on top of the flue. When closed, it blocks drafts from entering your home while preventing the heated or cold air in your house from escaping up through the chimney. It also keeps critters, like squirrels or raccoons, from crawling down the chimney and into your fireplace.
What is a damper on an HVAC system?
A damper is a necessary piece of equipment attached to your HVAC unit, duct, chimney, or similar control apparatus to regulate airflow. HVAC dampers can restrict the heating or cooling of a room and regulate temperatures of specific rooms within a home or building.
How does a throat damper work?
Throat dampers are a common option because they're convenient. A throat damper closes the base of your chimney and insulates your home from cold air. It's easy to check if a throat damper is open or closed since it's built into the fireplace and can be seen at the top of the firebox.
What is a fireplace throat damper?
What is a Throat Damper? Dampers come in different types and styles. Most dampers that are part of the original construction are called “throat dampers” because they're located in the throat of the fireplace, above the firebox (where you make the fire) and below the smoke chamber and flue pipe.
Is a damper the same as a flue?
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.
What is the purpose of a damper?
A damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air inside a duct, chimney, VAV box, air handler, or other air-handling equipment. A damper may be used to cut off central air conditioning (heating or cooling) to an unused room, or to regulate it for room-by-room temperature and climate control.
How do you open a throat damper?
If you see one of these, you have a traditional throat damper. If the knob is turned counterclockwise all the way or the rod hangs down low, it means the damper is closed. You should turn the knob clockwise, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper.
Does a fireplace need a damper?
Every fireplace needs a damper to let out smoke and gases and to keep out rain, debris and animals. Learn more about the essential fireplace damper.
Is it OK to leave the flue open overnight?
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.
Do all flues have a damper?
Not all chimneys or flues have a damper. Open fireplaces can usually be found with damper located within the upper part of the firebox. It's common to find a damper as part of an open fireplace, but in some cases there may be no damper at all.
Does a fireplace have a damper and flue?
Dampers are present on most chimney/fireplace systems. They sit just above the firebox (where the logs are burned) and under the flue (see below) and have a handle of some kind that allows you to open and close them. Fireplace dampers are plates that control the flow of air into and away from the firebox.
What are the 3 types of dampers?
In this guide, we will walk you through the main types of industrial dampers, and their applications, to help you with your decision making process.Multi-Blade Control Dampers. ... Single Blade Dampers. ... Backdraft and Pressure-Relief Dampers. ... Face and Bypass Dampers. ... Inlet Vane Dampers. ... Isolation Dampers.
What does a damper look like?
0:284:13UPSTAIRS IS HOT: Adjust Dampers For Heating Plus How to ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the very center of the bolt that goes through that wing nut has a flat spot on it and that tellsMoreAnd the very center of the bolt that goes through that wing nut has a flat spot on it and that tells you the position of the damper. So when you look at it and it's been smashed.
Where are the dampers located?
HVAC dampers are most commonly located in the main trunk line right before and after any major junctions. They can also be located at certain points on multiple system ducts, with two dampers found on every main line 90 degrees apart.
What Is a Chimney Damper?
A chimney damper is responsible for letting the smoke out of a fireplace flue. This is an important aspect of your chimney during the winter when you use the fireplace and during summer when the fireplace is not in use. It is essential to understand when to use a chimney damper to ensure your fireplace operates as intended.
Types of Chimney Dampers
There are two types of chimney dampers that are commonly seen in fireplaces, including throat dampers and top-sealing dampers. The main difference between each of these chimney dampers is where they are located. While both chimney dampers can improve the efficiency of your fireplace, each has unique benefits.
How Often Do Dampers Need to Be Replaced?
Routine chimney inspections and cleanings are important steps to ensure your fireplace and chimney can operate safely and efficiently. During a chimney inspection, a chimney sweep can evaluate the state of your chimney damper and detect if there is an inadequate seal or rust.
Trusted Chimney Inspections and Repairs
At Atlanta Chimney Doctor, we’re a leading chimney inspection and repair provider dedicated to meeting and exceeding all our customers’ needs. Our owner is present on all jobs to ensure each customer receives the unique care and attention they deserve.
What Damper Type Do You Have?
Chimney dampers are divided into two categories: If you’re not sure if your chimney’s damper is open or closed, start by defining the type of damper you have.
How to Determine Whether or Not the Damper Is Open
The kind of damper you have will determine how to identify if it is open or closed. If you start a fire with the damper closed, your house will rapidly fill with smoke. For safety reasons, you should make it a habit to check if the damper is open before lighting a fire.
How to Open a Damper and Check the Controls
Even though you can feel a draft, it’s always a good idea to check the settings before lighting a fire because a partially open damper won’t allow for appropriate ventilation.
Parts of A Fireplace Damper
A fireplace damper has three basic parts; the damper handle, damper plate, and the damper clamp.
Types Of Fireplace Dampers
There are about three types of fireplace dampers; these include flue dampers, fireplace throat dampers, and chimney cap dampers. Each damper type is ideal for specific uses as you’ll soon find out.
Is Fireplace Damper Open Or Closed?
Here, our discussion will focus on providing more information about this important fireplace component. Different aspects of its operation will be discussed.
Common Fireplace Damper Issues
As a valve that helps control the inflow of wind and outflow of smoke and gases, this important fireplace component must be kept functional.
Where is the throat damper located?
Here’s what you can expect a throat damper to look like: A damper located at the base of a chimney, just inside the top of the fireplace. A damper may sometimes be located at the very top of your chimney, known as top-mounted damper or a top-sealing chimney damper cap.
What does closing a damper do?
By closing the damper, you are preventing the majority of air passing through that point inside the flue, in either direction. With the damper open, air can flow freely up the flue when having a fire, and even down the flue when the fireplace isn’t in use.
What is a damper plate in a fireplace?
A fireplace damper plate is the piece of metal or ceramic that opens or closes to allow or prevent air to pass freely through a chimney or flue. A damper plate located at the throat (base) of a chimney is usually rectangular in shape, and is held in place within the chimney by a surround.
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.
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 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.
What is a damper in HVAC?
A damper is a necessary piece of equipment attached to your HVAC unit, duct, chimney, or similar control apparatus to regulate airflow. HVAC dampers can restrict the heating or cooling of a room and regulate temperatures of specific rooms within a home or building.
How does an HVAC damper work?
With an HVAC damper, you can withhold or redirect airflow more efficiently, as they are installed close to the airflow sources’ central openings. You’ll help reduce heating and cooling waste and keep costs down significantly. There are two primary air control HVAC dampers – automatic and manual.
What is an HVAC damper blade?
With HVAC dampers, these actuated blades allow you to control the amount of airflow you desire and where you wish to direct the flow.
Why are HVAC dampers important?
HVAC dampers are essential in ensuring employees’ health working with hazardous materials, such as dangerous fumes and gases.
What is a manual damper?
Manual dampers help block the flow of air into your home while also preventing small animals’ surprise visits. Automatic air control dampers by Lloyd Industries help prevent or adjust the airflow within air handling equipment and do not require manual adjustment by the homeowner or building tenant.
What is a fire damper?
Fire dampers and smoke dampers are two instrumental parts of a passive fire protection system. They work to protect your home or office building from smoke and fire damage. They work within your HVAC system to stop the spread of flames, smoke, and heat from spreading throughout your space.
What is natural ventilation?
Natural ventilation is the movement of air throughout your space by way of open doors or windows. This type of ventilation is intentional and circulates air, wind, and varying temperatures through your space.
