Where should the damper on my wood stove?

A damper is usually located approximately 12 to 18 inches from the stove, prior to the spot where the pipe exits into a chimney, if present. The damper retains heat that escapes up the chimney or flue. It allows this heat to dissipate into the area being heated by the woodstove.

Click to see full answer

Furthermore, should you put a damper on a wood stove?

Modern stoves usually do not need a damper. Agree with Harry. Most all modern wood burning appliances control burn rate by the amount of combustion air that is allowed to reach the fire, so there is no need for an exhaust damper. You should check out recommendations of the particular model you intend to install.

Similarly, what is the purpose of a stove pipe damper? The purpose of a pipe damper is to retard the flow of combustion air, smoke, and gasses in the stove by reducing the flow of smoke and gasses into the venting system. Note: Some stoves incorporate a round or oval pipe-damper attached to the flue collar of the stove.

Beside this, how far should stove be from damper?

Your stove pipe will melt before the damper. Put it one full radius away from the stove, with a little extra space (ie, 6" damper, put the center 4" from the stove) As a prior poster mentioned, you will need to access this damper frequently to control the fire. Rule of thumb is more draft, more air, and more fire.

Is a damper and flue the same thing?

Every Fireplace has a chimney damper. This is a movable plate that sits above the fireplace before the flue. If you pull the lever toward you, generally that will open most of the dampers. The flue, also known as the chimney lining, is basically a pipe up the middle of the chimney.

28 Related Question Answers Found

How do you keep a wood stove burning all night?

How To Keep a Wood Stove Burning All Night

Rake the charcoal towards the front of the wood stove.
Place five to seven large logs in a tight formation behind the coals.
Shut the door and enjoy.

Can you leave a wood burning stove on overnight?

First of all, and most importantly, you need to make sure that leaving your stove on overnight is safe and does not pose a fire risk. A Wood Burner is far harder to keep going all night as wood burns quicker than Coal. Allow enough air to enter the stove until the smoke stops and the fire is up to temperature.

Where should I install a flue damper?

Normally you want a flue damper in a vertical section, 18-24 inches above the top of the firebox. I put mine a full 24 inches above; over the years I've learned the hard way that putting it too close to the firebox causes the control rod to overheat and bend, and the spring gets weak so the damper won't stay set.

Can you leave the door open on a wood burning stove?

Wood burning stoves are not designed to be used with the door open. You can use a wood burning stove with the door open but doing so will lose the control of the air flow into the stove, making it operate less efficiently and sending more heat up the chimney rather than out into the room.

How do I increase the burn time on my wood stove?

Once a coal base is established, add larger logs to increase the burn time. Large, unsplit logs burn the longest. Adding too much wood to the stove at one time, however, can increase the burn speed. A small, hot fire will burn longer than a large, roaring one.

Do I need a flue damper?

Flue dampers are required on double door stoves when burned with doors open and screen in place. The damper then becomes your only control to slow the fire. It's good to have one on any stove in case while loading you get a log stuck and can't shut the door right away while you fight it.

How do you install a damper?

Open up the duct work, and drill two holes on opposite edges of the tube. These holes should line up with the pre-drilled holes on the damper. Remove the fasteners from the damper, connect it to the duct through these holes and into the drilled holes, and tighten. Then, seal both sides with duct tape.

Why does my wood stove have two dampers?

When the smoke becomes darker or more noticeable, open the damper slightly until it clears again. On modern stoves with two front dampers, make the initial adjustments to the lower damper only to control airflow to the fuel supply. Adjusting the upper damper affects the efficiency, not the rate of fuel combustion.

How high should a wood burning flue?

4.5 m

How does a stove pipe damper work?

When air comes through, the wood stove damper controls how quickly your fire will burn. By opening the wood stove damper, it allows air to get into the chimney so the fire can start. If you keep the damper open, the fire will build and the smoke and soot will vent through your chimney.

Which way does stove pipe go?

A fairly common point of confusion for many stove owners is understanding which direction the crimped end of the stove pipe is supposed to go - toward the stove (down) or toward the chimney (up).

How do I know if my damper is open?

Perform a visual check.

Using a flashlight, poke your head inside the fireplace to look up into the chimney. If you have a throat damper, you can tell if it is closed if you see a barrier above your head. If you can see up into the flue, the damper is open.

Why does my wood stove go out when I close the door?

This can occur due to several factors: The fire was not burning hot enough to produce the draft needed to pull the air into the fireplace. Feed more dry wood kindling before closing down the stove. Open the air shutter all the way to get the fire burning briskly before shutting it down.

Should fireplace damper be open all the way?

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. The damper should be kept open until all embers are finished burning to prevent smoke from escaping into the home. When the fireplace is not in use, the damper should always be closed.

Can a wood stove get too hot?

Buying Your Stove

This overfiring can overheat and damage the stove itself as well as stovepipe parts and adjacent structures in your house, which could cause a house fire. If the wood stove is too large and you reduce its output by restricting the air supply with the damper, then underfiring occurs.

What should my flue temp be?

A good rule of thumb is to get the temperature up to a stovepipe thermometer reading of 450 degrees F. for the first half-hour, and to keep it at an average of 300 degrees thereafter, each day that you start your stove.

How do I make my wood stove cool faster?

How Do I Cool Down Fireplace Logs That Are Burning Too Hot?

Close the air intake for wood stoves and closed, front fireplaces. This will cool down the fire, and cause it to burn more slowly.
Reposition the log in the fire to reduce the airflow around it.
Remove the log from the bed of coals, and place it to one side inside the fireplace.