Yes, you can close the damper on a wood stove, but when and how much depends entirely on the type of damper and the state of your fire. Improper use can lead to poor burns or dangerous carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
Your damper does the same for your fire. Once the fire is crackling away and there's a good bed of embers, you can ease the damper closed a little. This slows the burn, helping your logs last longer and keeping that lovely warmth radiating through your home.
The 3-2-10 rule lays the foundation
The chimney needs to extend at least 3 feet above the roof on the side of the chimney where the roof is highest. The top of the chimney must be at least 2 feet higher than any part of the roof or any component on the roof that's within 10 feet of it.
A fully open damper allows maximum airflow, making the fire burn hotter and faster. If you want a slower burn or a fire that lasts longer, you can partially close the damper to reduce the oxygen supply. Just be careful not to close it too much because it can lead to poor combustion and smoke buildup.
But can I close my damper just a little so I lose less heat on my chimney? No, never do this. The damper to your fireplace must be completely open when a fire is burning. If you close the damper even slightly, you risk allowing smoke and other dangerous contaminants from the combustion process into the house.
How to Do It: Wait until all embers have extinguished and the fireplace is no longer warm to the touch. Closing the damper too soon can trap smoke and carbon monoxide inside your home, creating a dangerous situation. Safety Tip: Always double-check that the fire is completely out before closing the damper.
Certain states have eligibility qualifications surrounding the wood-burning stove being used as a primary source of heat, which could make the house ineligible for coverage. Even if a wood-burning stove isn't the primary heat source, it will likely increase your homeowners insurance cost.
The Worst Woods to Burn
Spruce and Fir: These softwoods ignite quickly but burn out fast, producing more smoke and soot than hardwoods. They're better reserved for kindling. Green or Freshly Cut Wood: Wood that hasn't been seasoned (dried for at least 6–12 months) contains too much moisture.
If you have a two-story home, upper-level dampers should be open during summer and closed during winter. Opening dampers during the summer months distributes cool air evenly to the upper levels. In winter, closing the dampers allows heat to rise naturally, distributing warmer air throughout the upstairs.
Heat loss.
Air entering through the open door cools the stove and reduces its radiant heat. In other words, your modern wood stove becomes even less efficient.
Additionally, in the early 1980's, tests were conducted to discover which kind of wood created the most creosote in a regular “open” fireplace. The results were surprising. Contrary to popular opinion, the hardwood's, like oak and poplar, created more creosote than the softwoods, like tamarack and pine.
Mice aren't only found in the attic or kitchen. They can also make their way down your chimney. Mice are mainly attracted to open spaces and warmth, so your chimney is the perfect place to nest. Leaving them unattended could lead to a full-on infestation in your home and costly repairs.
The King can burn for 40+ hours on low or produce a tremendous amount of heat for 12 to 16 hours, depending on your installation and wood type.
In the burning process, wood starts to chemically break down at 500oF, producing volatile gases including creosote. These gases burn at about 1100'F; if that temperature is not roached, the gases will escape up the chimney, resulting in the loss of much of the wood's energy.
The biggest mistake? Using logs that simply aren't dry enough. Firewood with high moisture content produces more smoke, less heat and leaves behind sticky tar (creosote) in your flue and burner. It also makes lighting your fire harder, wastes energy and can even damage your stove.
One caution, though: Fireplaces with installed gas logs are required to have the damper open at all times. That's either because a pilot light is constantly burning under the logs or because the homeowner might forget to open the damper when he or she turns on the fire.
For a Hotter Fire
Fully open the damper to maximize airflow. It provides ample oxygen to the fire, resulting in a more intense and hotter burn.
Closing them can restrict airflow, raise humidity, and shorten the life of your system. If you're unsure how your dampers are set — or if you've been battling uneven cooling — it's time for a quick airflow inspection. For professional damper balancing and duct service, contact Florida Airflow today.
Once golden and crusty on the outside, push a long knife through the middle. If the damper is cooked through, the knife will be clean when removed. Tip: Another way to know that your damper is ready is if it sounds hollow when tapped. Serve with your favourites spreads!
Which Firewood Burns the Hottest? If you're wondering what wood burns the hottest, black locust leads the list with some of the highest BTU output—up to 26 million BTUs per cord. Other dense hardwoods like hickory, oak and beech also rank near the top, producing long-lasting, high heat that's ideal for large spaces.
Properly cured, or "seasoned" firewood needs to be cut, split and stacked for a minimum of six months to be properly dried for this fall and winters fireplace needs.
The General Rule: Once a Year
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends having your chimney inspected at least once a year and cleaned as needed. For most homeowners, that means scheduling a chimney sweep annually—even if you only use your fireplace occasionally.
Pellet stoves burn fuel so completely that very little creosote builds up in the flue, posing less of a fire hazard. Unfortunately, pellet appliances are also more complex and have expensive components that can break down.
“Studies have shown that fireplaces, in general, are a selling point for a home, while wood stoves may help to increase house prices by up to 5%,” says Fireplace Universe. So, wood stoves are a good investment if you're looking to increase your home's resale value.
Depending on the temperature outside, our thermostat setting, and the insulation factor of our home, we can expect between 12 and 27 hours of burn time out of one 40-pound bag of pellets. This is pretty standard for a 40-pound bag of wood pellet fuel.