Should The Flue Be Open On A Wood Fireplace?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire

and when the fireplace is in use. Close it when it’s not it use. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home.

How open should a fireplace flue be?

A fireplace damper should always be

open all of the way when starting a fire

, and usually always open throughout the length of the fire. A flue damper should be opened all of the way when opening a stove door to add further fuel to the fire, to help prevent any smoke from pouring out of the stove and into the room.

How do you use a fireplace flue?

  1. Open the fireplace damper all the way when starting a fire.
  2. Let the fire burn for a few minutes then adjust the damper so that it is partially closed (about half way) to see how it affects the fire.

How do you open the flue on a wood burning fireplace?

You should

turn the knob clockwise

, as far as it can go, or push the rod all the way up to open the damper. If there is a metal chain in or besides your fireplace, it means that your chimney has a top-mounted damper. If the chain is tightly attached to a hook, the damper is closed.

Can I leave the flue open overnight?

The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is

important to leave the flue open overnight

. This enables a draft to carry the compound out into the atmosphere, instead of sinking down the chimney and saturating the room.

What happens if you forget to open the flue?

People often forget to open their

chimney dampers when they build a nice warm fire

. Unfortunately this can cause serious problems, as it blocks the use of the chimney. Your room will soon fill up with smoke, and even worse, you can start a chimney fire.

Should I close the damper on my fireplace?

The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use.

Close it when it’s not it use

. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not generate more heat. Instead, blocking the passage through the flue will result in smoke entering the home.

Is the flue open or closed?

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. … You should be able to reach up and touch the

closed

damper. If you have a top-mount damper, check for daylight at the top of the flue.

Is a damper and flue the same thing?


A damper is located in the flue of your chimney

. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.

How do I know if my fireplace flue is open?

Lean in under your chimney just outside of your wood burning stove. 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.

How do you close a chimney flue?

If there’s a lever, move it side to side or up and down to release it before sliding it horizontally. This motion will cause the damper to slowly lower in to the closed position, so the lever will remain loose. For pull chains,

pull the longer

one to extricate the damper and the shorter to close the flue.

Is it safe to sleep with a fire in the fireplace?


You should never go to sleep while a fire is in the fireplace

. It may seem safe—after all, the fire is small and controlled behind a metal grate. … Before going to bed, make sure the fire is completely extinguished.

Can you get carbon monoxide poisoning from a wood burning fireplace?

CO is one of several products from the combustion process. It’s also the most dangerous and deadly. The direct answer to the question above is:

yes

. Your gas, pellet or wood burning stove, insert or fireplace will produce carbon monoxide.

How do I keep my fireplace burning all night?

  1. Ensure That The Damper Is Fully Open. …
  2. Warm The Chimney. …
  3. Maintain The Air Supply. …
  4. Build The Fire Correctly. …
  5. Only Burn Wood That Is Dry Enough. …
  6. Burn Room Temperature Wood. …
  7. Burn Hardwood Logs. …
  8. Add A Couple of Logs At A Time.

Is it safe to run gas fireplace with flue closed?

Since

there is little or no exhaust, they can be burned with the damper closed

. The beauty of this type of system is that 99.9% of the heat produced by the gas logs goes into the room, so they produce substantially more heat than their vented counter-parts.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.