How do I know if the damper is open or closed?

Author: Lera Greenfelder  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 2, 2025

If you don't feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed. Another way to find out if the damper is open is to do a visual check. If your chimney has a traditional damper, all you need to do is shine a flashlight up the chimney. If you can see the sky, it is open.

How to tell if dampers are open or closed?

Check Airflow

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.

What position is the damper 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.

What does a closed fireplace damper look like?

Visually inspect

If it's too dark to properly see, then use a flashlight. If you can see up through the damper and past to your chimney's interior, then the damper is open. If you only see the metal plate that's blocking your line of sight, then the damper is closed.

Which way do you turn the damper?

If you want to close the damper, you will need to turn the damper lever in the opposite direction of the duct. If you want to open the damper, you will need to make sure it is running in line with the flex duct. You can also adjust the damper of the furnace or air conditioner so it is partially open.

How do you know if the flue is open or closed?

How do I make sure my damper is open?

• 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.

How do I know if my fireplace damper is open or closed?

If you feel a draft, your damper may be open. Another way to check is to roll up a newspaper or match and light it up. Place it inside your fireplace, near the top section. An open damper will pull up the smoke and flames upward, while a closed damper will not.

Is it OK to leave fireplace damper open?

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.

How do you adjust the damper on a fireplace?

Damper Throttling

The damper has notches, so you can partially close it (throttling), like a manual stick shift in a car. Next, when an intense fire burns in the fireplace, you can manually set the damper in the first notch position, slightly closing it.

What does a damper look like?

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.

What is the direction of a fire damper?

The dampers are designed for operation in the vertical or horizontal position with blades running horizontal. The dampers shall not be compressed or stretched into the opening.

What is the small lever on the side of my fireplace?

The handle on the left-hand side is for your combustion air intake; think of this as a gas pedal in a car but is used for controlling the intensity of your fire. The handle on the right-hand side is for your flue damper; this control is used primarily to slow down the chimney draft.

How often should I clean my chimney?

Regularly cleaning your chimney (about once a year) will reduce the amount of creosote in your chimney and should greatly reduce the risk of any chimney fires in the future. It's also important to make sure that the chimney cap is in good condition and that there are no gaps or holes in the flue.

Are dampers normally open or closed?

Outside and exhaust dampers will generally revert to a normally-closed (NC) position, while return air dampers will revert to their normally-open (NO) position to ensure that any supply fans are not deprived of fresh air.

Do I push or pull the damper to open?

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.

What position should my damper be in?

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.

Does closing the damper make the fire hotter?

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.

How do you fix a fireplace damper that won't close?

How to Repair a Chimney Damper
  1. Remove Debris. Start by cleaning debris and creosote from the damper before removing it. ...
  2. Remove the Damper Plate. While looking upward from your firebox, you'll see a rod affixed to the chimney/frame by a nut. ...
  3. Clean Everything. ...
  4. Replace the Damper Plate.

How do I know if my fireplace damper is open?

A flashlight should illuminate a throat damper well enough to see if it's open or closed. For a damper at the top of the chimney, you'll have a chain that controls the device. If you can pull on the chain before it jumps back up, the damper is open. You can also start a small fire as a test.

Do you just let a fireplace burn out?

Fully extinguishing the fire in the fireplace before going to bed is crucial. It is also important to install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors near the fireplace and ensure proper ventilation. Regular chimney cleaning is necessary to prevent chimney fires and maintain optimal fireplace safety.

How do I know if my damper is working?

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.

What happens when you close the damper on a fireplace?

A fireplace damper is designed into your fireplace to open or close the chimney flue. Think of a chimney damper as a small mini door that, when closed, stops any airflow through the firebox. When opened, the damper establishes the draft, and smoke is pulled up the chimney.

Should fireplace damper be open in summer?

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.

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