The damper handle is pushed upward to disengage the control, then the handle is pushed or pulled to open or close the damper. Poker damper. The tip of your fireplace damper opens and closes a poker damper. The poker tip is placed into the control slot, and a rapid upward push opens the damper.
Typically, to open the damper, push up or lift the rod all the way. Pull it down to close the damper. Another type of damper is a screw-type or rotary control damper. Typically, you will close the damper by turning it counterclockwise all the way, which causes the rod to hang down low.
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.
OPEN OR CLOSED? The damper should be kept closed when there is no fire or coals burning. Warm air from your home will not be lost up the chimney when the fireplace is not being used. Fully open the damper before your start a fire and keep it fully open until all embers and coals have burned out.
Standard handles will open the damper when they're turned away from you, so if you cannot turn the handle any further, then the damper may be open. Pulling the handle towards you will close the damper. Other fireplaces use levers to operate the throat dampers by switching it to the right or left.
To open a damper with a poker mechanism, center the poker through the formed slot which is hooked to the breast of the fireplace damper and push in a direct upward motion.
Since dampers control airflow, you can tell whether they are open or closed by testing the flow. Hold your hand up to your vents or the register while it is on. The dampers are at least partially open if you can feel airflow on your palm. The dampers are most likely closed if you can't feel any airflow.
HVAC Damper Open Or Closed In Summer/Winter
In most homes, dampers going to the upstairs are open in the summer and closed in the winter. By closing the dampers to the upstairs in the winter, it allows for the heat to rise naturally after first being introduced into the lower levels of the home.
Proper Damper Use
It's important to open the damper all the way when you're using your fireplace, a partially open damper can allow smoke and gases to escape, but can also cause a backdraft that can bring cold air into the home. When you're not using your fireplace, it's important to close the chimney damper.
Use the Damper to Control Heat
Depending on how far open or shut you have the damper, your fire will be smaller and cooler (and burn for longer), or larger and hotter (and burn more quickly). The damper is usually located at the bottom of the stove.
You need to open the damper when you start a fire to allow for proper airflow and let the smoke out. A closed damper can restrict airflow and become a safety issue since smoke would fill your house.
A lever that's pushed to the left will close the damper whereas a lever pushed to the right will open it. Some fireplace dampers are controlled by a chain found on the inside of your fireplace. If it's hooked to the side of the fireplace wall, then this probably means that the damper is closed.
In most houses, dampers on the upper level are opened in the summer and shut in the winter. In the winter, closing the dampers on your HVAC system to the upstairs allows for heat to rise naturally as it is distributed throughout the home.
The pressure loss through any damper is a function of the entering flow profile, the free area ratio, F, of the open damper area to that of the damper frame or wall area, the geometry of the damper installation, and the exit conditions as air leaves the damper.
First, ALWAYS ensure the damper is fully open BEFORE lighting the fireplace. Otherwise, you and your home may be covered in soot and ash if the chimney back puffs. The damper has notches, so you can partially close it (throttling), like a manual stick shift in a car.
For the automatic control damper, turn your HVAC system on. Check for airflow in the registers. If there is a small amount of airflow and your room is not maintaining temperature, or if there is a lot of airflow and your room feels drafty, this could indicate a faulty HVAC damper.
Should You Leave the Damper Open or Shut? This concept is simple: you should leave your damper open on your wood-burning fireplace until all the embers are extinguished, but leaving it open overnight is definitely not efficient. Cold air will float down the flue and make your home cold, increasing your heating costs.
What Damper Setting to Use. With a little experimentation, you will find the damper setting and drag factor that work best for you. We recommend starting out on a damper setting of 3–5. Really focus on technique, and as you improve, you may find that a lower damper setting gives you the best workout and results.
By not creating an airtight seal, these dampers minimize the strain on the system. In summer, you can close the dampers downstairs so cooler air reaches upstairs rooms. But in winter, closing upstairs vents halfway allows heat to rise.
Adjust Your Supply Vents For Maximum Heating in the Winter
Closing supply vents in higher locations by your ceilings while opening lower ones on floors or close to baseboards. Doing this will direct more warm air to the floor, where it will rise to heat the whole space.
A damper is usually placed near the end of each duct run and has three positions: closed, half-open, and fully open. The closed position blocks airflow completely, while the half-open allows only partial airflow. The fully open position allows maximum airflow out of the ductwork.
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. And remember, the most dangerous by-product of combustion is carbon monoxide.