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.
A visual check is one of the surest ways of checking whether the damper is open or not. 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.
• Feel for a Draft
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.
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 is probably open. Pulling the handle towards you will close the damper. Other fireplaces use levers to operate the damper by switching it to the right or left.
You should find a metal device just within the chimney or flue opening. The damper is open if you can see through the damper up to your chimney. If you only see a metal plate, the damper is in a closed position.
Inspect the Handle Position
If your dampers use a manual handle, check the handle's position to determine whether the dampers are open or closed. The HVAC damper is open if the handle is parallel to the ductwork. If the handle is perpendicular to the ductwork, the dampers are closed.
One common myth about chimneys is that leaving the damper open during the summer helps “air out” the chimney. However, the opposite of true. Leaving the damper open just fouls up the rest of your home, and does nothing to clean your chimney.
Poor insulation can worsen temperature differences between floors. Heat from the sun can penetrate through the roof and walls, making the upstairs warmer. If your attic or walls are not adequately insulated, it can result in significant heat transfer.
They are round discs made of thick fiberglass or dense cardboard (similar to egg crate bedding) They have a handle that can be turned either direction to allow or stop airflow through the damper. Some dampers have a pointed metal pin attached for easy grip when turning.
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.
HVAC dampers are typically located within the ductwork of your heating and cooling system. Common areas where HVAC dampers are located include attics, basements, or inside the walls near the HVAC unit's filter.
Closing your fireplace keeps your space cool.
If you keep your damper open, your air conditioner will have to work much harder to keep your space at a comfortable temperature. This can result in higher energy bills, and warm, humid air from outside can still make its way into your space.
The bottom lever is the air intake from below the fire, it helps to make the fire start faster, but it also makes it consume faster! The top one is for exhaust like, again open makes it burn faster but will last shorter, also if you have problems with smoke add a good pile of wood and open both until it's clean.
Place your hand near the air vent or register while your HVAC system is running. If you feel air flowing, the damper is open. If there is no airflow, the damper is likely closed.
To create fires that produce more heat, open the damper as wide as possible when lighting a fire. A wide-open damper will increase the amount of air reaching the fire and improve combustion. As a result, the fire will burn hotter.
If you are looking at a duct that is coming off the furnace and going straight up like it is going to the upstairs, and the wing is in the same direction as the duct, it is open. If the wing is in the opposite or vertical position to the ductwork, then the damper is closed.
When should the damper be kept open or closed? The fireplace damper should always be in the open position whenever you have a fire in the fireplace. Never close the damper or leave the fireplace unattended while there is a fire in the fireplace.
If you can't tell if its open or closed you can turn those wing nuts until you feel resistance as it spins. When you feel it get tougher that means the damper is closed and vice versa for opened.
Inspect Visually
Carry out a visual inspection of the chimney from your fireplace. If you can see open dampers or see the sky, that will prove that the flue is open. Failure to see the sky implies a closed flue or one that may need unclogging.
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.
In the summer, a closed damper helps to keep cool, air-conditioned air inside the home where it belongs. 2. In the winter, when you're not using the fireplace, a closed damper helps to keep cold air from swirling down into the house.