Do you have to open damper on gas fireplace?
The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times, you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home. The exception to the open damper rule is in a vent-free gas insert.
Does my fireplace need a damper?
Yes, a fireplace needs a damper. A flue will still work without one, but smoke and carbon monoxide can be an issue if you don’t use a chimney with the right kind of dampers. Fireplaces should always have a functional, working flue system that includes both vents or dampers – generally at least two per flue pipe size.
How to use a fireplace damper the right way?
To help start the draft before building and lighting a fire in your fireplace:
- If your fireplace has a damper open it as a far as possible.
- Open any external air vents within the same room as the fireplace.
- Warm up the air within the chimney.
When do you adjust the fireplace damper?
When lighting a fire, move the damper into its fully open position. This allows air to get into the chimney and assist in starting the fire. After starting the fire, adjust the damper to the half-closed position. Take a moment to see how this affects the fire before adjusting the damper further.
How do you open the damper on a gas fireplace?
0:212:09Basic Home Improvements : How Do You Open a Fireplace Damper?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen it's when the handle is over to the left it's fully closed and that would be the position thatMoreWhen it's when the handle is over to the left it's fully closed and that would be the position that you would keep that damper in whenever you're not using your fireplace if you move it to the right.
Do I have to open damper for gas fireplace?
"Fully Vented" gas logs must be burned in a fireplace that is capable of burning real wood and must be burned with the damper open. The reason for this is that they do not burn the gas cleanly and create exhaust that is very similar to burning a real wood fire.
What does a damper look like on a fireplace?
0:112:10Basic Home Improvements : How to Work a Fireplace Damper - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhat it is it's basically just a round flap that is either in the closed position.MoreWhat it is it's basically just a round flap that is either in the closed position.
Can you close the damper when pilot is on gas fireplace?
If you have installed gas logs in your fireplace, the damper should never be closed. If you have a pilot light constantly burning under your gas logs, shutting the damper puts you, your family and your pets at severe risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
How do I know if my gas fireplace flue is open or closed?
Feel the Breeze 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.
How do I know if my damper 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.
Do all fireplaces 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.
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.
What are the 2 levers on my fireplace?
in your home are turned off when burning your fire. Also, some wood burning fireplaces have a lever to open or close the outside air vent to the fireplace. If your fireplace has this lever (usually located on the left inside panel) make sure the outside air vent is in the open (or up) position.
Do all gas fireplaces have dampers?
Gas fireplaces don't have their own integrated dampers. Natural vent gas fireplace inserts or logs that are located within existing masonry fireplaces that utilize the chimney for venting will require any dampers located within the chimney to be open at all times.
What happens if you forget to 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.
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.
What happens if you don't open flue on 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.
Why doesn't my gas fireplace put out heat?
If your fire keeps going out, this is most likely due to a clogged thermocouple and burner parts. Fixing this problem is usually pretty simple and can be resolved by cleaning out your fireplace. However, in some cases, gas fireplaces won't heat the room because the system is not pushing enough warmth into the room.
How do I keep cold air from coming in my gas fireplace?
" Answer: Install our magnetic fireplace vent cover on the lower vent to stop the inner air circulation from coming inside. Use our Direct Vent Fireplace Termination Cap Cover on the outside cap to stop the cold outside air from coming in through the flue.
Do I need to vent my gas fireplace?
Do Gas Fireplaces Need Venting? Not all gas fireplaces need venting. Both natural vent and direct vent gas fireplaces need venting, which exhaust air up a chimney and through the wall to the outside respectively. Ventless gas fireplaces don't need venting.
Where are fireplace dampers located?
Fireplace dampers can typically be found at the base of a chimney, at the top or a chimney or at the base of a flue. Dampers are usually made out of metal or ceramic to allow them to withstand the heat of the fires and the resulting smoke, air and gases.
Where is the damper on a chimney?
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. A damper can also be located at the base of a flue, located just above a wood burning stove or other form of fireplace stove that utilizes as flue.
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 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 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.
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 gas fireplace?
Gas Fireplace. Gas fireplaces create flames by burning natural gas rather than wood. Ceramic logs and embers sitting in a metal grate give it the appearance of a wood-burning fire, but they are just for show. Like a standard fireplace, a gas unit produces both heat and waste gases.
Do vent free fireplaces need to be vented?
These units are designed to be clean-burning and to produces low levels of waste gas, so they do not need to be vented through the damper and out the chimney. They produce more heat than vented gas fireplaces.
Do all fireplaces have a damper?
To be up to code, all fireplaces must have a damper. A functional damper opens and closes easily just by using the handle or lever; any damper that requires extra work to move is considered nonoperational and should be repaired. The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times, you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home.
Is it safe to use a gas fireplace?
Buying firewood, finding a place to store it away from dampness, rodents and termites, then hauling logs into your home and sweeping wood chips up from the carpet – a roaring fireplace is more romantic when it doesn't take as much work. Gas fireplaces are less labor-intensive to operate and, as long as the chimney damper is open, they are safe to use.
Should a gas fireplace damper be open?
The damper in a gas fireplace should remain open all the time. The glass between the firebox and your home prevents cold or heat from coming down the chimney and by leaving the damper open at all times, you eliminate the risk of having gas build up or backdraft into your home. Advertisement.
Why do you need a damper on a fireplace?
When the fireplace is not in use, the closed damper will keep your home’s warmth from escaping through the chimney.
What to do if your fireplace damper is not working?
They will be able to ensure that your fireplace is operating properly and not going to cause harm to you or your home.
What happens if you don't feel air in your fireplace?
If you are sure the controls are in the open position and you don’t feel air, your damper may be broken. Do not use your fireplace until you are sure the damper is open. The smoke won’t have anywhere to release and you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
How to tell if a damper is open?
If the space allows it, you can do a visual test to see if the fireplace damper is open. Take a flashlight and shine it up your chimney. If you see a metal damper, then it is in the closed position. If you can see the night sky, then the damper is in the open position.
What is the purpose of a damper in a chimney?
It is the pathway through which air and smoke enter and leave the chimney. A damper helps control the air that moves through the flue.
What is a chimney damper?
A chimney damper, or chimney cap , sits on top of your chimney and acts as a cover. It is fixed and usually has no controls. It will keep out most birds and creatures, but it is not adjustable and offers less control over your fireplace. We won’t be discussing chimney caps today, as they do not require any operation.
Can you close a damper when a fire is burning?
If the fire is burning too intensely, you can close the damper a little more. Be sure to never close the damper completely while a fire is burning. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Why do they put a bracket on a damper?
And in fact, in some gas log situations where it’s conversion from a wood burner to a gas-burning log, they put a bracket on a damper to prevent you from ever being able to close it because that could be very dangerous. JO: Oh.
Is an unvented gas fireplace a manufactured unit?
TOM: Yeah, an unvented gas fireplace is a manufactured unit – you know, a steel unit – that’s made under very careful controls; and, frankly, even though it is designed to be unvented, we don’t like them. LESLIE: Mm-hmm. They really should always be vented. TOM: We would much prefer that they always be vented.
Why doesn't my gas fireplace have a damper?
The reason gas code does not want you to have a damper for gas fireplace is so that you don’t kill yourself or your family with CO. CO is the product of incomplete combustion, that is the fire does not get enough oxygen, the damper issue is lack of draft, air moves up and out the chimney drawing air to the flame.
What is the second set of dampers?
The second set you describe are the ones that are supposed to be fitted with a clamp to prevent the old damper from closing
How much is a damper clamp?
The damper clamp is $2. Is it a big deal? I buy them by the handful and leave one when it’s missing.
Is a gas fireplace a safety hazard?
The fireplace was a wood burner with gas logs installed with a damper that was operational. All fireplaces with gas logs should have the damper removed or clamped in the open position. This is a potential safety & health hazard. Have a qualified Contractor make corrections as needed.
Is a Braidi Kase fireplace a gas fireplace?
Braidi Kase: It’s actually an old wood burning fireplace (house built in 1928) but it has a gas log insert that also looks quite old. Once you install a gas log set, it becomes a gas-fired-appliance. it is no longer a solid-fuel-burning appliance.
Can you put a glass front on a gas fireplace?
From a warmth and energy savings point of view, consider installing a glass front. For safety’s sake, have a qualified gas fireplace technician check your chimney for condition. They do make automatic dampers that will cut the gas off when closed, but your individual installation requirements can vary widely.
Can a fireplace be used without a damper?
In our climate, a fireplace without a damper would be a tremendous energy waist. Unless they are sealed from conditioned air and use exterior air for combustion, they’ll actually drop the room temperature by 10 degrees on a cold winter evening.
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 ...
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 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.
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 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.
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.
