This is another great way to quickly see the position of the damper. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First of all, the chimney pipes should be positioned so that they are as vertical as possible. It is important to go through walls or partitions with 45° bends. In addition, horizontal runs and 90° bends should be avoided at all costs, as they cause flue gases and clog the flues.
For fireplaces with levers, you want to free the flue from its support tab by pushing up. After it releases, keep pulling the lever away from the tab to close the flue. Once it's tight, run your hand up the chimney to make sure you don't feel any air.
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.
There are a few ways to determine if a vent is open or closed. You can inspect the vent and examine the position of the fins. If there are spaces between them, the vent is open. If the fins are flat and touching, the vent is closed.
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. In the summer, the lower level is naturally cooler, and most people report having hot rooms.
The fire/smoke damper may be mounted in the vertical or horizontal position with the damper blades running horizontally. Airflow can be from either direction.
A damper is a tiny, plate-like part that you can find inside ducting. This small piece allows you to manage the airflow throughout the year to ensure maximum comfort. Some ductwork already includes a damper while others will need to have one installed.
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.
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.
The damper position is set by the thermostat. The thermostat controls the temperature in the air-conditioning system by responding to changes in the temperature. If the thermostat senses that the temperature is too hot or cold, it sends a signal to the dampers, which adjust to let in more or less air.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Damper controls vary depending on functionality and structure. Some open the flue by rotating a knob in the anticlockwise or clockwise direction, while others require you to pull or push to open the flue. You can quickly tell whether you have an open or closed flue depending on the position of these controls.
The damper and flue are two different parts, but they are related and involved in the same function. The flue is the inside tunnel of your chimney that brings gases from your fireplace out of your home, while the damper closes or opens the access to the flue.
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.