Have you ever seen a fire in a wood stove? Most likely yes. If your house has an attic, chances are very, very good that hot air rises up there. What happens when hot air rises? It wants to find another way out than the small holes of the flues. If you’re burning a woodstove or something similar, it can lead to smoke entering your home. This is why many people use a smoke and fire damper for their ductwork. In this article we want to explain the purpose of smoke and flame dampers.
Stop Flames From Spreading From One Compartment To Another
When a fire occurs in a building, it’s important that the fire be contained so that it doesn’t spread and take out more than just the space where the fire started. Smoke and flame dampers help to ensure that this happens.
Flame dampers are designed to open automatically when a fire starts, allowing smoke and heat to escape while keeping flames from spreading into other areas. They’re usually located between floors or on walls, so they can be easily accessed in case of emergencies.
Allows For Larger Amounts Of Smoke And Heat To Escape
Smoke and fire dampers are a critical part of your ductwork safety. They allow for larger amounts of smoke and heat to escape without letting flames into the ductwork, which would cause extensive damage to your home.
The damper is installed at the top of your ductwork where it meets the wall. It’s designed to close automatically when there’s a fire, which prevents smoke from entering your home while still allowing some heat to escape so that firefighters can do their job.
Designed To Close Off An Air Duct In The Case Of A Fire
Smoke and fire dampers, or SFDs, are designed to close off an air duct in the case of a fire, so the fire doesn’t spread. The damper is a rectangular metal panel with a small handle on the side. When you pull out the handle, it opens a panel that lets smoke and hot gases pass through. When there’s no fire, you can push it back in to seal up the ductwork.
Conclusion
These are used in systems that are completely surrounded by other combustible materials. Wood burning stoves and furnaces are examples of these types of systems. These types of hvac dampers are special because they prevent over pressurization which can cause the system to tear itself apart. Indeed, if you notice an increase in smoke getting into your house, it is a good sign that your damper needs service.