Published on May 29th, 2020.
Many people have fireplaces, but not everyone has a fireplace damper. Even those who do have dampers might not be aware of the purpose and benefits of having one. A damper serves two main functions and is fitted inside or at the top of your fireplace. If you don’t already have one, there are several reasons that you may want to consider getting one.
One benefit of using a damper is that it keeps heat from escaping. Although a fireplace is beautiful with a fire burning and the sound of crackling wood can be very relaxing, you also want the heat to remain inside the home, not waft outside to warm the great outdoors. By partially closing the damper, the heat circulates lower, thus staying in your home for warmth that cannot be matched by gas or electric heating systems. As an added bonus, it also helps you save a lot of money on your heating bills.
Another benefit of fireplace dampers comes into play when starting a fire in your fireplace. A fire needs oxygen to breathe and ignite. By opening the damper, it gets this air so it can start strong. By leaving it open at the start of your fire, it will build bigger so that when you close the damper more, it will stay blazing for a longer time. Although it’s important to always keep an eye on a burning fire, this will help reduce the number of times you have to actually tend it.
Among the types of dampers available are throat-mount (made of cast iron) and top mount. They can be found in fireplace stores or built to the exact specifications of your fireplace. If you have a larger flue or one with an odd shape, you will have to get one made to ensure proper fit. There are also damper/cap combinations available.You can find them in home improvement stores, specialty fireplace stores, and from online retailers and they are generally not very expensive.
If you are unsure about whether or not you need a damper or how to use one, please contact a professional for expert advice as it relates to your particular fireplace. Different fireplaces have different needs. The benefits of using a fireplace damper are important to your home, your heating bill, and the environment. So, start your fire, adjust your fireplace damper, and enjoy the wonderful heat of your fireplace.
Many people have fireplaces, but not everyone has a fireplace damper. Even those who do have dampers might not be aware of the purpose and benefits of having one. A damper serves two main functions and is fitted inside or at the top of your fireplace. If you don’t already have one, there are several reasons that you may want to consider getting one.
One benefit of using a damper is that it keeps heat from escaping. Although a fireplace is beautiful with a fire burning and the sound of crackling wood can be very relaxing, you also want the heat to remain inside the home, not waft outside to warm the great outdoors. By partially closing the damper, the heat circulates lower, thus staying in your home for warmth that cannot be matched by gas or electric heating systems. As an added bonus, it also helps you save a lot of money on your heating bills.
Another benefit of fireplace dampers comes into play when starting a fire in your fireplace. A fire needs oxygen to breathe and ignite. By opening the damper, it gets this air so it can start strong. By leaving it open at the start of your fire, it will build bigger so that when you close the damper more, it will stay blazing for a longer time. Although it’s important to always keep an eye on a burning fire, this will help reduce the number of times you have to actually tend it.
Among the types of dampers available are throat-mount (made of cast iron) and top mount. They can be found in fireplace stores or built to the exact specifications of your fireplace. If you have a larger flue or one with an odd shape, you will have to get one made to ensure proper fit. There are also damper/cap combinations available.You can find them in home improvement stores, specialty fireplace stores, and from online retailers and they are generally not very expensive.
If you are unsure about whether or not you need a damper or how to use one, please contact a professional for expert advice as it relates to your particular fireplace. Different fireplaces have different needs. The benefits of using a fireplace damper are important to your home, your heating bill, and the environment. So, start your fire, adjust your fireplace damper, and enjoy the wonderful heat of your fireplace.
Filled under Uncategorized. 64 Comments. .
Published on January 23rd, 2011.
The gas fireplace was on for about 10-15 minutes and the damper was closed and then i started to smell the gas and so i immedietely shut off the fireplace and opened all windows and doors. I have a slight headache now and am worried that i have carbon monoxide poisoning. should i go get it checked out or am I okay? I dont have any other symptoms except for the headache but i’m really worried. Help!
Filled under Uncategorized. 115 Comments. Tags: 15 minutes, carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide poisoning, damper, gas fireplace, headache, windows and doors. .
Published on January 22nd, 2011.
there is the notch for "close" and then there are 2 notches before the "open" notch….what are these 2 spaces for? is it for when we go to "kill" the fire?
Filled under Uncategorized. 58 Comments. Tags: notch, notches. .
Published on January 13th, 2011.
She flipped her pillow over , and tossed her sweaty blankets to the edge of her cot. She could hear the humming of cicadas outside, and the rushing waters of the crystal waterfall nearby. It was another twilight at the beautiful jungle of Kurosawa.
The colorful flowers, and the luscious green trees and bushes made it the most breathtaking sight in the world. From tiny, to gigantic plants, it was all here. The plants here, reminded her of a blanket of snow, although, it was blanket of mosses, flowers, and plants.
Birds of every form flew by the huts window, and monkeys swung on the monstrous trees. It was perfect here, and she loved it.
Her mother and father were scientists- they wanted to study animals in there natural habitat. They where gone from dawn, to dusk, but Milo her brother took care of her. Although she never wanted to leave Kurosawa , she missed her parents.
At night, when they where asleep, she would stay up as late as she could until she drifted off, soaking up the fact that they were in the next room. And when they were gone, she would sometimes cry… only on days when Milo was some were outside, probably sketching more pictures.
“Just stay inside, and don’t tell mom.” He would say. She would grumble, then sit by the window, watching the rain fall. If it were sunny, she would usually skip outside, and glide in the water by the water fall. She could now hear a few raindrops on the grass roof.
“Let’s leave early,” she could hear someone whisper through the darkness. It was her dad. “Why don’t we just take the day off?” Replied her mom’s groggy voice.
“Were so close, Marian! The bird is nesting a mile from here, we just need to get a few pictures, and we can get home, and we’ll have a half day, come home, and spend time with Milo and Kera!” Her mom replied something, but the wall muffled it all, and all she could hear was an, “OK,”
Kera was know the happiest girl in the world. She was going to spend time with mom and dad! Excitement grabbed tightly at her stomach. Her parents were never home, and when they were, they were too tired to grumble, “How was your day?”
She heard the hut’s door softly close, then crunching footsteps, and she listened close till they faded away.
That morning, at 7:30, she awoke to the hum of the rain. She quickly showered, being damp with sweat, and got into shorts and a tank top. She decided she might go on a quick walk, down the small path that led to the waterfall. She skipped along, enjoying the view, and the cool mist of rain.
She sat on a mossy rock, large and wide, and she picked some dazzling flowers up, to make a bouquet for her mom. She slowly and carefully, she tied them together, using a hairpiece. She then trotted back to the hut, whistling. When she stepped inside, Milo was eating some kind of fruit. “Where where you!?” He screeched, worried lines on his forehead. He was dripping with sweat, and panting. “By the waterfall,” I replied dully, and got a vase off the shelf, stuffing the flowers in. “Um, you’re supposed to stay here! What were you thinking?” I smiled. “What are you thinking, then? You leave me alone all day, usually.” He shook his head at my words, then went off to his room, slamming the door. The hut had bamboo walls, and doors. The windows where merely screens, but somehow, the hut was built so no rain could drip in.
There was a stone fireplace, never really used, only for cooking, or boiling water. There were three bedroom, all of them with a cot, and a dresser, and a small ceiling fan. The floor, was bamboo, and it was all put on stilts, a few feet off the ground. We had two showers, and a bathrooms. We had electricity, so we had a clock, a few lamps, and a refrigerator.
Or course, we had cell phones, but only mom and dad used them. We had two laptops, and, well, that was pretty much all we had, beside the few clothes everybody owned.
She sat down, and took a deep breath. It was time to wait till they arrived home.
It had already gotten dark, and I was already feeling sleepy. The noises of the night where already whistling through the air, and the rain had stopped.
Worry washed through me like an ocean wave- numbing and strong.
I called for Milo. “What?” He answered, as he stepped in the room, with hints of coldness in his voice. He was probably still upset at me for taking off without telling him. “Mom and dad should be home by now….” I mumbled, not wanting him to tell I was scared.
“I know. I heard them talking last night.” He replied, biting his lip. “Maybe we should look for them.” I whispered. He looked bewildered. “WHAT? Are you crazy?” He roared, his cheeks burning. I had then told him, “OK, OK, just a thought. I suppose we can wait…”
He roared, his cheeks burning. I had then told him, “OK, OK, just a thought. I suppose we can wait…”
But, the next morning, they still had not returned. Nor the next, or next. It had been three days now. I was petrified, just thinking about what could have happened to them. I would sit outside, while my eyes would scan for them through the twisting vines, and plants.
Milo tried to cover up for it, probably to keep me from worrying. I could tell he was fibbing.
That night, I lay in my cot, sick with anticipation. Then it hit me. I had to look for them myself, for Milo was never willing to take a risk for anything, even the only parents we had. I pictured Milo when he found I had left- his green eyes would glow fire, and his cheeks would turn even tanner than they where already.
I tried to think of it all differently- they may just be caught up so badly on something, they could just forget to come back…
No. That couldn’t be a possibility. I silently slipped out of bed, and too
Filled under Uncategorized. 103 Comments. Tags: blanket of snow, breathtaking sight, cicadas, colorful flowers, cot, crystal waterfall, dawn to dusk, girl in the world, grass roof, green trees, half day, happiest girl in the world, huts, mom and dad, mother and father, natural habitat, rain fall, raindrops, watching the rain, water fall. .
Published on January 10th, 2011.
I’ve been with my girlfriend for over 7 years now. We started staying together at about 3 years around the time she got pregnant with my son. We currently stay at her moms house in a room connected with the house but its a size able room that was added on. Its about the size of two master bedrooms with bathroom and our own entrance, not too bad for us 3 for now. It has a fireplace, sliding glass doors, bar w/ sink, shelves and closet, It would look real nice expect that this room is always a "complete" mess. There’s always clothes, toys, trash, food, etc just laying around. Dishes weeks even sometimes "months" old laying around. It I were to rate it from 1 through 5, 1 being ransack dirty, 3 being average and 5 being completely clean, I would rate it 1 1/2. She says its because she is currently pregnant but shes always been like that, and even if it was because she was pregnant, is that even normal. I know for sure pregnant women aint that lazy.I dont wanna sound mean but this room is filthy. Also our 4 year old son is always making a mess with toys and throwing things around but like normal people I would expect her to clean up while Im at work which does not happen, even not being pregnant. She says I’m a clean freak but come one, I can handle a mess but dirty, damp towels under the microwave for weeks, thats nasty. Never sweeps, barely take out the trash even though it passes by twice a week. I wanna know what ya’ll think……. do you think I’m over exaggerating about her cleaning up, for does she have to straighten up her act. NOTE**** I know that she is pregnant but shes is like this all the time and she has to clean up at least a little which she does not do at all.
Filled under Uncategorized. 207 Comments. Tags: 3 years, clean freak, clothes, dishes, fireplace, girlfriend, master bedrooms, microwave, pregnant women, shelves, sliding glass doors, towels, toys, trash. .
Published on January 9th, 2011.
I’m 12, and i wanted to write a story for school. Do you think this is OK for a beginning?>She flipped her pillow over , and tossed her sweaty blankets to the edge of her cot. She could hear the humming of cicadas outside, and the rushing waters of the crystal waterfall nearby. It was another twilight at the beautiful jungle of Kurosawa.
The colorful flowers, and the luscious green trees and bushes made it the most breathtaking sight in the world. From tiny, to gigantic plants, it was all here. The plants here, reminded her of a blanket of snow, although, it was blanket of mosses, flowers, and plants.
Birds of every form flew by the huts window, and monkeys swung on the monstrous trees. It was perfect here, and she loved it.
Her mother and father were scientists- they wanted to study animals in there natural habitat. They where gone from dawn, to dusk, but Milo her brother took care of her. Although she never wanted to leave Kurosawa , she missed her parents.
At night, when they where asleep, she would stay up as late as she could until she drifted off, soaking up the fact that they were in the next room. And when they were gone, she would sometimes cry… only on days when Milo was some were outside, probably sketching more pictures.
“Just stay inside, and don’t tell mom.” He would say. She would grumble, then sit by the window, watching the rain fall. If it were sunny, she would usually skip outside, and glide in the water by the water fall. She could now hear a few raindrops on the grass roof.
“Let’s leave early,” she could hear someone whisper through the darkness. It was her dad. “Why don’t we just take the day off?” Replied her mom’s groggy voice.
“Were so close, Marian! The bird is nesting a mile from here, we just need to get a few pictures, and we can get home, and we’ll have a half day, come home, and spend time with Milo and Kera!” Her mom replied something, but the wall muffled it all, and all she could hear was an, “OK,”
Kera was know the happiest girl in the world. She was going to spend time with mom and dad! Excitement grabbed tightly at her stomach. Her parents were never home, and when they were, they were too tired to grumble, “How was your day?”
She heard the hut’s door softly close, then crunching footsteps, and she listened close till they faded away.
That morning, at 7:30, she awoke to the hum of the rain. She quickly showered, being damp with sweat, and got into shorts and a tank top. She decided she might go on a quick walk, down the small path that led to the waterfall. She skipped along, enjoying the view, and the cool mist of rain.
She sat on a mossy rock, large and wide, and she picked some dazzling flowers up, to make a bouquet for her mom. She slowly and carefully, she tied them together, using a hairpiece. She then trotted back to the hut, whistling. When she stepped inside, Milo was eating some kind of fruit. “Where where you!?” He screeched, worried lines on his forehead. He was dripping with sweat, and panting. “By the waterfall,” I replied dully, and got a vase off the shelf, stuffing the flowers in. “Um, you’re supposed to stay here! What were you thinking?” I smiled. “What are you thinking, then? You leave me alone all day, usually.” He shook his head at my words, then went off to his room, slamming the door. The hut had bamboo walls, and doors. The windows where merely screens, but somehow, the hut was built so no rain could drip in.
There was a stone fireplace, never really used, only for cooking, or boiling water. There were three bedroom, all of them with a cot, and a dresser, and a small ceiling fan. The floor, was bamboo, and it was all put on stilts, a few feet off the ground. We had two showers, and a bathrooms. We had electricity, so we had a clock, a few lamps, and a refrigerator.
Or course, we had cell phones, but only mom and dad used them. We had two laptops, and, well, that was pretty much all we had, beside the few clothes everybody owned.
She sat down, and took a deep breath. It was time to wait till they arrived home.
It had already gotten dark, and I was already feeling sleepy. The noises of the night where already whistling through the air, and the rain had stopped.
Worry washed through me like an ocean wave- numbing and strong.
I called for Milo. “What?” He answered, as he stepped in the room, with hints of coldness in his voice. He was probably still upset at me for taking off without telling him. “Mom and dad should be home by now….” I mumbled, not wanting him to tell I was scared.
“I know. I heard them talking last night.” He replied, biting his lip. “Maybe we should look for them.” I whispered. He looked bewildered. “WHAT? Are you crazy?” He roared, his cheeks burning. I had then told him, “OK, OK, just a thought. I suppose we can wait…”
But, the next morning, they still had not returned. Nor the next, or next. It had been three days
OH, BTW in the end her parents were not scientists. They are actully spys, and they are trying to find these people that where selling rare plants and animails from the jungle on the black market. The bad guys where doing there dirty work in the jungle, where nobody would search. the spys (keras parents) had been captured when they had gone out. And Kera ends up finding out about this, and solveing the mystery herself. The "bad guy" go to jail, and she saves her parents. 
LIKE OR NOT?
Filled under Uncategorized. 63 Comments. Tags: blanket of snow, breathtaking sight, bushes, cicadas, colorful flowers, cot, crystal waterfall, dawn to dusk, grass roof, green trees, half day, huts, marian, mother and father, natural habitat, rain fall, raindrops, watching the rain, water fall, whisper. .
Published on January 8th, 2011.
i have a woodburning fireplace insert in the house we just purchased, the chimney is showing signs of age (hairline cracks in clay liner) after reading up on this i am under the assumption that when inserts are installed now ( this one is probably 30 years old) that you install a chimmney liner to reduce the flue size because of the more efficient burning. my chimmney has an 11 inch square flue, i installed a 6 inch pipe as recommended on various chimmney liner retailer sites. however i have not installled a complete flexible liner all the way up ( 25 ft chimmney) i installed 6 ft of rigid stove pipe in the flue to get gases into the beginning of the clay liner. this was the way that was recommended several years ago, now they recomend liners all the way up. here is the problem, i hardly get any heat in the room when burning this, if i shut the top damper i get alot more heat, but i can’t shut it more than say 1/4 inch or i get smoke rollout, i also cant open more than one door on this insert or i get rollout even with damper wide open. is this normal? i understand this is draft related but the people who lived here before burned this for 30 years, i can’t believe it did this always? i would think that me installing the pipe improved the draft by sizing the flue more correctly to the insert.
normaly i would agree "if its not broke, don’t fix it" but in this case, the mortar in the smoke chamber was broken and pieces missing, and the fireplace damper was rusted out so it was unusable as is. also there are signs of smoke in the house previously such as black stains on front of fireplace ( chimmney was blocked up with creosote I cleaned it out) from what i read an oversized flue will work but cause excessive soot buildup, which is why the 6 inch pipe/liner is recomended for an insert. my main question was do other people with inserts usually have to have the upper damper open all the time? do you think maybe i am not loading enough wood (too small of a fire ) to give heat correctly? i built a fire with approx 3 peices of wood 3-4 inches thick, firebox will hold alot more
Filled under Uncategorized. 1 Comment. Tags: assumption, chimney, clay liner, creosote, fireplace damper, flexible liner, flue size, gases, hairline cracks, inch pipe, mortar, pipe liner, signs, smoke chamber, stains, stove pipe, woodburning fireplace insert. .
Published on December 26th, 2010.
A handyman has pulled up about half the carpet. THe padding is wet. Most of the carpet is dry but some is wet. Now there is a black covering over the cement. The handyman had an emergency and now we have a holiday. He returns Tuesday.
What are my options? I want the basement for storage reasons although it is a finished basement with a working gas fireplace. The floor is covered with black sticky stuff. What can I do? The carpet was pretty but it smelled. My electrician said it gave him a headache and I could smell it at work after I left. I will not move in for another month. Can you help me?
I will talk to the handyman next week. It looks as though it is coming up from the ground to us. It is a 52 year old home that looked good with had dry carpeting during the insection last month but wet when I bought it. I wonder what I should do with the floor now.
Filled under Uncategorized. 104 Comments. Tags: carpet, carpeting, cement, electrician, finished basement, gas fireplace, handyman, headache, padding, sticky stuff, storage. .
Published on December 25th, 2010.
First a little background. I live alone (no kids or pets) in a 2bedroom duplex, about 500 sq ft. I have gas heat and hot water. My bill is usually pretty manageable but I don’t like the heat to just run. I live in E Texas, and it is getting colder which is a damp arthritic kind of cold that is just miserable. I know what is out there, just don’t know the ins and outs of choosing the right thing for my situation and why it is the best.
I have seen ads for those electric fireplace heaters, some Amish built, in addition to advertising as efficient they are decorative…too expensive. I have also seen the box heater that is cool to the touch. Then there are ordinary space heaters which I think I can use responsibly and safely.
Is one more efficient than the other? Safety comparisons? Are any more efficient than just boosting the gas heat? How much do these things increase the electric bill?
Thanks for your help!
Filled under Uncategorized. 4 Comments. Tags: amish, cool to the touch, duplex, electric fireplace heaters, gas heat, hot water, ins and outs, pets, space heaters, sq ft, thanks for your help. .
Published on December 19th, 2010.
My landlord has it set to 60F and when I wake up its so cold in here I can hardly move because of my Fibromyalgia and its also VERY damp. This morning when I woke up it was 62F in the house.
He has told me to use the wood insert in the fireplace but I am not going to be chopping and carrying wood.
If I did use it the heat wouldnt come on at all and my bedroom would probably be like an ice cube, its bad enough now. I wish I had known how cheap he is before I moved in, but I couldnt afford to live anywhere else anyhow, I would have been living on the street if not here, 
He has lit the wood fire a few times, and it doesnt draw properly so I am still fighing a sinus infection from that.
We had frost last night, my car was white when I went outside at 1 AM. Winter is on its way here in BC
is that an invitation to visit GW? and yes if you have an allergy to suspended air particles you CAN get a sinus infection when the sinus become irritated by suspended particles in the air, the irritation leads to sneezing, runny nose and ultimately an infection. This is what my nose and throat specialist told me and I tend to believe him. thanks for your answer all the same
I will call the people who sell those thermostats for directions, I bet he has put in a code though.
Filled under Uncategorized. 74 Comments. Tags: air particles, allergy, fibromyalgia, fireplace, invitation, landlord, runny nose, sinus infection, thermostats, throat specialist, wood fire. .