You must open the damper fully before lighting a fire. This allows smoke and gases to escape through the chimney instead of coming back into the house. If the damper's closed, you risk carbon monoxide buildup, which can be dangerous. Use the handle or lever inside the fireplace to open the damper.
The 3-2-10 rule is a building and safety standard for chimney height. It states that: Your chimney must extend at least three feet above the point where it exits your roof. It must also be at least two feet higher than any part of the roof (or nearby structure) within ten feet horizontally.
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.
Keep it fully open until all embers and coals have burned out. This will allow smoke and other combustion by-products to exit the fireplace safely and up the chimney. Close the damper after the fire, and the coals have completely burned out.
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.
Heating Schedules. Keep to a steady heating schedule over winter to keep a home consistently cozy. HVAC technician Josh shares, 'On average, in winter weather, most furnaces or boilers will cycle on and off for eight to 12 hours per day. That's assuming daytime temps around 35-45°F (1 to 7°C) and nights in the 20s.
Because your home's HVAC system is designed to regulate the temperature of the entire house, when ducts are closed, this pressure can build up and may eventually cause damage to your ducts or heating system. To sum it up, closing your air vents may mean that: Your HVAC system must work harder.
Open the Damper Before Starting a Fire
This allows smoke and gases to escape through the chimney instead of coming back into the house. If the damper's closed, you risk carbon monoxide buildup, which can be dangerous. Use the handle or lever inside the fireplace to open the damper.
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!
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. The damper must be fully open when lighting the fire.
You can usually tell by checking the damper lever on your ductwork. If it's parallel to the duct, it's open; if it's perpendicular, it's closed. Some systems use motorized dampers, which are controlled by your thermostat or zoning panel.
Dampers are made to close tightly when you aren't using your fireplace in order to prevent air exchange between the inside and outside of your home. Closed dampers also keep small animals and insects that have accessed the flue from accessing your house.
The "Seven Times Rule" is: The flow area of the largest common vent or chimney shall not exceed seven times the area of the smallest draft hood outlet. NOTE: there are significant differences between the operation of interior and exterior chimneys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Common mistakes to avoid when making damper
Put the damper into an open position and check the registers once again to see if the airflow starts. If the damper is closed and you are feeling low airflow, or none at all, it is most likely a bad damper. For the automatic control damper, turn your HVAC system on. Check for airflow in the registers.
Many people are under the impression that opening the damper helps cool the house, because warm air rises and will travel up the true. This is simply not true. Leaving your damper open will actually allow hot outside air to draft in, negating the effects of your air conditioning system.
Fireplace damper position
With the damper open, the fire will continue to build, and allow smoke, soot and other contaminants to vent through the chimney. But leaving the damper fully open while the fire is burning also allows the heated air to escape causing your fireplace to operate less efficiently.
Three of the most common factors are illustrated here, including: obstruction, failed linkage and failed actuator. Obstruction is one of the most common factors contributing to damper failure.
A fully or partially closed damper pushes back against the air being forced through the system by the blower fan. It increases air resistance inside your ductwork.