When to close the oven damper

The damper is a structural part of any stove. Its role is to control the draft in the chimney - while the stove is already flooded, as well as at the end of the firebox. In complex furnace mechanisms (multi-channel), a valve is used to switch smoke passages. The valve solves its main task by moving in the grooves of the frame. During this process, the area of ​​the smoke channel changes, and accordingly this leads to a decrease or increase in vacuum. There are several options for the design of the damper. The first represents a frame within which a sheet of metal moves. For its manufacture, sheet metal is used. There are round-shaped structures, they are called views. To close it, use either a round lid or a washer. Views are made of cast iron.

Each valve has certain advantages and disadvantages. But, in particular, soot is deposited on each of them and therefore they must be handled carefully, otherwise you can get dirty. It is installed in a pipe through which hot air is removed. There is also a damper option that uses a rotating valve. It is also installed in the chimney, and by rotating the valve you can adjust the movement of hot air.

When to close the oven damper

To maintain heat in the house and regulate draft, it is necessary to close the damper.As a rule, it is located at the beginning of the chimney and if it remains open, the stove will lose heat quite quickly.

An open valve provides internal ventilation in the stove - this happens as follows: street air enters the firebox through the ash pan and, after heating, goes out into the street through the chimney. When the damper is open and the fire stops, the heated bricks will quickly cool down.

If it is closed, then the cooling of the stove occurs more slowly, this also happens because the retained hot air warms up the brick walls of the stove more; in this state, a Russian stove is able to retain heat for up to two days.

In other words, the valve allows you to increase the efficiency of using the stove structure installed in the house.

REFERENCE! According to fire safety standards, it is unacceptable to completely block the chimney. Using a gate valve, it is permissible to cover 85% of the section.

Why do you need to close the damper?

As a rule, the owner of the stove knows its features and understands when it is time to close or open the damper. If you do not close the damper in time, the following will happen: either the stove will cool down quickly, or the fuel will burn out too quickly, without having time to properly warm up the structure. At the same time, there is the following danger: when the damper is closed, carbon monoxide will accumulate and, as a result, poisoning of others.

REFERENCE! Carbon monoxide is a toxic substance. You can list the main signs of poisoning: if a person is poisoned by carbon monoxide, he will begin to feel dizzy, his hearing will decrease, and his vision will deteriorate. It will become difficult for him to breathe, and to this can be added the appearance of a severe headache. The victim must immediately call an ambulance.

What happens if you don’t close the damper in time?

As already noted, the valve is designed mainly to regulate the flow of gases. This process allows us to ensure the safety of the heat that is generated due to the combustion of wood. In addition, the oven is ventilated through the damper.

Failure to close the valve in time can lead to the following consequences:

1. Quick heat dissipation.
2. Rapid combustion of fuel, which leads to additional costs for the purchase of new firewood or coal.
3. Accumulation of carbon monoxide in the room, which in certain concentrations can lead to poisoning of residents.

In addition, if the damper is not closed in time, it can lead to a violation of the thermal regime of the heating device, or, more simply, to overheating of the walls, which is completely unacceptable - the maximum temperature of the furnace walls should not exceed 70 degrees.

That is, the valve is a fairly simple design that ensures the efficiency of traditional stove heating. In the chimney of modern stove equipment, the presence of such a device is simply necessary.