Damper (architecture)
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In a duct or chimney, a damper is a valve or plate that stops or regulates the flow of air. A damper may be used to cut off central air conditioning (heating or cooling) to an unused room, or to regulate it for room-by-room temperature and climate control. In the case of cutting off air, it is often manual, turned by a handle on the outside of a duct. This may also be done in the summer to cut off airflow to an attached humidifier, which is only needed in the winter. Automatic zone dampers with electric or pneumatic motors can be used to control airflow constantly, by having a thermostat in each room which operates the damper on the duct leading to it. This makes the system operate much like a radiator system with valves on the steam or water pipes.
In a chimney flue, a damper closes off the flue to keep the weather (and birds and other animals) out and warm or cool air in. This is usually done in the summer, but also sometimes in the winter between uses. In some cases, the damper may also be partly closed to help control the rate of combustion. The damper may be accessible only by reaching up into the fireplace by hand or with a woodpoker, or sometimes by a lever or knob that sticks down or out. On a woodburning stove or similar device, it is a usually handle on the vent duct as in an air conditioning system. Forgetting to open a damper before beginning a fire can cause serious smoke damage to the interior of a home, if not a house fire.
