Fireplace Flue Open Or Closed In Summer

Keeping your damper open does not air out your chimney.

Fireplace flue open or closed in summer.

Although all fireplace users understand how important it is to have the damper open when the fireplace is in use few understand that it is equally important to close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. Leaving the damper open removes the barrier between your chimney and the rest of the house meaning chimney odors are more likely to seep through your home. Have a good summer and see you in the future. Definitely closed when not in use you can actually feel the air flow being sucked out of the house when you sit by the fire place with the flue open its not saving you pennies its saving you much more than that it causes an automatic draft when its left open.

It may be best to open the flue when you light the candles. Again this is incorrect. Don t forget we do gas log repairs adn service for you. Another common myth about dampers is that leaving them open during the summer helps air out the chimney.

But when you aren t using your fireplace leaving the damper open can allow warmth out and cold air in. If the flue is open the smoke will go out of the chimney without any problem. When you have an active flame going you want to leave the damper open so the smoke can escape through the flue. The damper in your fireplace helps you control the flow of air when your fireplace is being used or not.

Here are simple techniques on how to tell if a chimney flue is open or closed. Operating the fireplace with the damper partially closed will not. Tie together a bundle of birch twigs or logs and place the bundle in the fireplace. Close it when it s not it use.

Start a small but smoky fire in your fireplace say using papers or tinder alone. A closed off fireplace can be a decorating challenge but just think of it as a blank canvas. You dont want cold or hot air going up the chimney. Here are the creative solutions i came up with.

Light up a fire. In my home i had several closed fireplaces to deal with. During the summer an open damper forces your air conditioner to work harder to compensate for the constantly incoming warm air. The damper should always be fully open before lighting a fire and when the fireplace is in use.

Leave it closed until you use it. If the damper is closed then the smoke will come out of the chimney and fill out the room. Unless the hot air is from a fire lol and remember this hot air rises and cold air sinks so with it. This is not true for every fireplace some especially pre fab type the damper is either open or closed.

Give yours a check to see open or closed it can help save money during winter keeping it closed when not in use.