Gate valve for a chimney - instructions for making it yourself

Purpose and application

A ventilation damper is an ordinary damper, a valve, the main purpose of which is to regulate air flow. It can be used to increase or decrease air flow, and, if necessary, to stop it completely. In its most general form, a ventilation damper looks like a flat damper with a thickness of about 1 mm. It is made mainly from galvanized steel sheets.

Of course, the ventilation system will work without a damper, but will it be of high quality? After all, the ventilation of premises under any conditions and circumstances will always be the same. It’s another matter when ventilation systems are equipped with dampers. In this case, it becomes possible to completely control the flow of fresh air and reduce or increase its amount in the room if necessary.

So, having figured out what a damper is and why it is used in ventilation systems, let’s look at what they are like.

Gate for ventilation system

Dampers designed for ventilation consist of a damper in a metal pocket. These structures are used to block a section of the air duct from the network.

The standard damper for ventilation has a nipple connection. The longitudinal size of the product up to the nipple grooves can vary from 70 to 200 mm. If the installation is carried out on round air ducts of impressive diameters, then guide angles are additionally used, which ensure good movement of the damper. Round gate valves can be based on stainless, galvanized or black steel. The thickness does not exceed 1 mm.

Types of ventilation dampers

Modern production offers the most diverse range of valves designed for use in ventilation systems. However, the entire existing set of gate types can be grouped into several categories:

The shape of the dampers is determined by the shape of the ventilation shaft - most often round valves are used, but in some cases rectangular valves are needed:

• There is a need to hide the gate while ensuring the minimum possible use of space.
• When installing ventilation systems that use electric heaters, since they themselves are predominantly rectangular.

Gate maintenance

The gate, made of stainless steel, is usually polished to perfect smoothness. Soot settles on it poorly, but still settles. Therefore, it must be cleaned periodically.

The horizontal valve can be cleaned simply by pulling it out to the maximum and applying a special solution. Rotary - cleaned through the chimney with a special plastic brush. You should also ensure that the damper moves freely along the guides. It is allowed to periodically lubricate them with an anti-corrosion compound.

What is a gate valve

A damper for ventilation is a special valve, the main task of which is to completely or partially block air flows or bulk and liquid materials. Parts of this kind, in addition to ventilation systems, are also widely used in various drainage systems, wastewater channels, etc.

There are two main types of the described mechanism: horizontal and rotary gate. The second is also sometimes referred to as the "throttle valve". Unlike a horizontal type mechanism, it is quite unreliable, so its use is resorted to only in cases where installing a horizontal gate is impossible for technical reasons.

The duct damper is most often used in chimneys made of brick or steel. To ensure complete closure of the channel, it has a perforated shape. These requirements must be met in order to comply with fire safety requirements. It is also worth noting that there are automatic duct dampers with electric drive. The process of closing and opening such a mechanism is carried out remotely by pressing one button.

Operating principle of gate valve

The simple and at the same time reliable principle of operation of gate valves largely predetermined their high popularity and indispensability in the organization of pipelines, designs of production and industrial installations, as well as sewer and other systems. So, the valve is always installed perpendicular to the flow of the working medium (air, liquid, gas with various impurities and components). Under manual mechanical or automated influence, the force from the rod or spindle is transmitted to the gate element, which is driven and completely or partially blocks the passage of the contents in the pipe. At the same time, a spindle installed in a limited space may not have a retractable design. In this case, the tightness on both sides of the gate is ensured by the pressure of the working medium. Also, a tight and reliable connection is achieved through the use of an oil seal made of synthetic fiber, dry or oiled cotton fiber, as well as graphite and other materials.

A polished and sharpened gate, shaped like a knife or guillotine, performs a smooth sliding movement between the working medium and the seal. Such a device helps to avoid temporary delays in the operation of installations or pipelines. The sharp ends of the gate with a strong seal ensure smooth and uninterrupted operation of the valve, reducing the likelihood of premature wear of the main working element, especially in the presence of aggressive environments, as well as many large components and impurities.

Classification

Modern industry produces many types of gate valves for ventilation, which differ from each other in many parameters. Gate designs vary:

• in shape - round and rectangular;
• according to its design, the gate can be retractable or rotary;
• by type of control - manual, automatic (electric drive), pneumatic, hydraulic;
• according to the installation method - using flanges or using the method of installation in a socket;
• according to the material of manufacture - anti-corrosion, alloyed or chrome-plated steel.

The external shape of the damper depends on the structure of the ventilation system in which it will be installed. However, in private situations, only rectangular gates can be installed. There are two such cases.

Round

As already mentioned, the shape of the damper used depends on the form of ventilation. Accordingly, the use of a round damper for an air duct is only possible if its shape matches the system pipes.

Rectangular

A rectangular valve for ventilation is used much more often than round valves. In addition to pipes, it can also be installed in chimneys, drains, wastewater systems, etc.

Moreover, in some situations, only a rectangular damper can be used for ventilation. There are two such cases.

1. If there is a need to hide the valve, subject to a minimum amount of free space.
2. During the installation of ventilation systems, the design of which involves the use of electric heaters.

Selecting a location option

There are several ways to install a gate, each of which has both pros and cons. An important factor is what the chimney is made of. But modern masters prefer to use the three most common options:

1. Installation in a fireplace insert.
2. Fastening using the “pipe in pipe” method.
3. Installation in a ventilation system.

The damper can be installed in the ventilation system

If the master has chosen the “pipe-to-pipe” installation type, then he will not need to use special fasteners to securely fix the damper with the fireplace elements. The location of the damper in the ventilation system completely eliminates the possibility of overheating of the fan motor during active operation.

Modern manufacturers offer ready-to-install chimneys that are equipped with all the necessary devices (the slide damper is no exception). In this case, the part must be used in strict accordance with the recommendations established by the manufacturer. Otherwise, you can make a chimney damper with your own hands and at a more affordable price.

There are three main options for placing the damper in the chimney:

• pipe-to-pipe fastening;
• placement in a fireplace insert;
• installation in a ventilation pipe.

Brick chimney with damper

If you place a gate valve in the outlet pipe or in the furnace firebox, that is, build this element into its design, the damper is placed on a section of pipe as close as possible to the heating boiler. This guarantees ease of control and ease of turning the valve. This is explained by the fact that the handle will not touch either the portal or the cladding area. If it is located according to the “pipe to pipe” option, no additional fastenings are required for connection with other elements of the furnace.

Typically, ready-to-install chimneys are offered, which are equipped with everything necessary, including a slide valve. In this case, it is placed in the system in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If it is not provided for one reason or another, it is quite possible to manufacture and install this element yourself.

Types of gate valves

• Classic butterfly valve. Such a damper operates due to rotational movement inside the air duct. Such a gate installation consists of a metal body and a removable rotating disk. If used for a long time, it may become faulty, but replacing the part will not be difficult. You can perform this procedure on your own. Even in the absence of certain skills, you can do the entire design of a classic-type throttle installation with your own hands. This type of gate valve is easy to use and does not require constant monitoring by the property owner.
• Air damper for chimney. Refers to control parts that control the amount of fuel in the combustion chamber. Workflow management is carried out automatically.

Scope of application

Gate valves are capable of performing only two functions: shutting off and regulating flow, but due to their design features and versatility, they are used in various fields:

• domestic and industrial water supply and sanitation;
• wastewater treatment systems;
• transportation of gas, oil and their products;
• mining industry;
• production of food and non-food consumer goods;
• ventilation systems for various purposes.

Note! Wedge-shaped valves are most often used in water supply and wastewater systems. For other areas, knife fittings are mainly used, as they are simpler and more reliable.

Chimney gate valve

The very first of the gate valves, the chimney valve, deserves special attention. It has a long history and a very simple design: there is no control mechanism, no seals, only seats and a blade valve.

This is interesting! The device is of German origin, and the name "gate" means "flap" or "gate" in German. Therefore, the entire locking and regulating mechanism and the shutter knife itself are called a gate.

Ancient stoves and fireplaces without dampers were not built, since there were no other ways to regulate the draft.

A knife valve - a rectangular cast-iron plate with a handle - was installed across the chimney. In the walls of the chimney, at a height slightly greater than human height, grooves were made into which a cast-iron frame was installed, allowing the valve to move freely back and forth - it served as a set of saddles. The handle of the shutter plate protruded beyond the smoke shaft, which made it possible to set the position of the gate from completely open to completely closed, smoothly adjusting or completely blocking the air flow in the pipe.

We recommend that you read: Hood for a gas boiler and the rules for installing it in a private house

When the damper is open, the draft in the chimney is maximum, flue gases are removed in full, but warm air from the premises also flies into the chimney. Usually, the damper is fully opened when lighting a heating device, and then its position is adjusted, achieving optimal draft, at which both the fire burns and the house heats up. When the fuel burns out and the formation of smoke stops, close the damper so as not to release heated air through the chimney.

Modern stoves, fireplaces and boilers, especially solid fuel ones, still need this simple draft control mechanism. But with the advent of diversity in materials for chimney construction, there was also a need to modify the valves. Cast iron gate valves are still popular for smoke shafts and combined rectangular smoke exhaust structures. Round pipes have to be modified by installing an insert with saddles so that the gate can move freely across the chimney.

Note! Round chimneys are also equipped with rotary valves called butterfly valves. Since this mechanism also performs the function of regulating the flow, it is sometimes called a rotary gate. However, such a valve has a completely different operating mechanism, more reminiscent of a rotary valve rather than a classic knife valve.

Design and operating principle

The gate consists of two elements - a fixed body and a movable shutter. Depending on the direction of movement of the shutter, there are retractable and rotary models. The simplest structure of a retractable valve, which is also called a knife gate valve. In it, the shutter moves perpendicular to the movement of air in the channel - a thin plate extends and easily blocks the flow. In rotary (throttle) models, the shutter rotates around its axis, gradually blocking the passage in the air duct. The simpler the structure of the gate element, the higher its reliability and longer service life. Traditionally, retractable valves are considered the most reliable and unpretentious in operation.

Purpose and types of these devices

The chimney valve, or, as it is also called, a damper, is designed to regulate the draft in the chimney. The operation is performed as follows. During combustion, the valve closes a certain section of the chimney channel. By reducing or, conversely, increasing the damper area, you can control the air flow in the chimney and, accordingly, the flame strength in the heating device and draft. After the combustion process stops, the valve closes so that air currents do not carry away heat from the room. However, even in this state, the damper should not completely block the chimney: this is contrary to safety standards. The systems must be installed on almost all types of heating devices except the latest models, where the draft is adjusted automatically using a deflector.

In their shape, chimney valves must very accurately reproduce the cross-section of the pipe. There are two different design options for gate valves:

Retractable. The simplest and most reliable design. Moves only in the horizontal direction. It is most often installed in steel or brick chimneys. It is a smooth plate with holes that easily moves in the guide grooves.

Rotary or throttle.

The device rotates around its axis, as a result of which it can open or close the smoke channel. Installed in cases where the retractable damper cannot be used for various reasons.

Retractable option. During the combustion process, the gate valve opens. The ability to regulate the overlap area of ​​the smoke channel allows you to adjust the draft. After the fire goes out, the damper closes

The throttle gate valve rotates around its axis, closing or, conversely, opening the smoke channel. Installed in cases where the use of a retractable damper is not possible

The required system option is selected based on the design features of the chimney. In addition to the type of device, the material also plays an important role. Most often used:

• Cast iron. It produces very strong, reliable and durable products. Traditionally used to make devices. The main disadvantage is their heavy weight, so such valves can only be installed on brick pipes.
• Stainless steel. Lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant material. It does not affect the heat transfer of the heating device, therefore it allows you to achieve maximum efficiency of the stove. Steel gates are usually polished to provide a smooth surface that prevents soot from settling. Installed on any pipes.

Rotary throttle

rotary butterfly valve
Rotary valves are not as widespread as the previous version. The operation is based on a rod, which is located in the center. A metal sheet is installed on it with rotation around its own axis. Due to this, the space is regulated and blocked if necessary.

This is a simple design that can be made on your own without any problems. But the moving part of the mechanism cannot boast of high reliability. Periodic replacement is required, which involves additional costs.

For installation, the socket and flange method is used. The differences lie in the fastening elements, which become relevant in each case.

Catalog of gate valves and their design characteristics

We supply equipment to DKG and are ready to offer you gate valves with the following characteristics:

You can get advice on equipment from our manager; to do this, contact us in one of the following ways:

• By phone 8-800-555-95-28 (free call)
• By email
• Via online chat on the website

DIY making

Independent production and installation is impossible without the following devices at hand:

1. Markers.
2. Compass.
3. Roulette.
4. Kern.
5. Welding with electrodes.
6. Vise.
7. Pliers.
8. Hammers.
9. Tap and oil to lubricate the threads.
10. Drill.
11. Cutting and grinding abrasive wheels.
12. Bulgarian.

gate manufacturing

It is necessary to have a sheet of stainless steel of the domestic brand 12×18n10t. It is acceptable to replace it with an imported analog AISI304. The cost is higher, but the service life is also longer.

The minimum sheet thickness is 1.5-2.5 mm.

Other materials you will need:

• Rod for a metal frame.
• 2 bolts 8 mm.
• 6 mm stainless steel tube.

Specifications

The design of the dampers completely depends on the location of their installation, the temperature of the air masses and the shape of the air ducts. All valves have an absolutely smooth surface, which is dictated by operation under conditions of temperature changes and the need for regular cleaning. In addition, the damper must be perforated or equipped with a slotted hole. This will not completely block the flow of fresh air into the room and will ensure the preservation of a favorable microclimate.

The gates are retractable and rotary. The first ones are used in ventilation systems with forced circulation of air flows, and are straight valves made of steel. They are installed perpendicular to the direction of flow. This design allows you to control the volume of air passage and, if necessary, change it.

Rotary models, called butterfly valves, can be installed on natural draft ventilation. The models are presented in the form of a plate fixed to an axis, and are activated using a rotary handle. The handle, in turn, is secured to the plate with a bolt and wing nut, and opens the valve 10 degrees with each turn. All valve parts are made of galvanized steel and, if necessary, additionally painted.

In supply and exhaust systems, dampers are installed in the air duct gap in front of the fan. This arrangement of the damper prevents the fan motor from overheating: when the fan starts, the damper is closed, and after the number of revolutions reaches operating parameters, it is opened. In this case, the gate acts as a starting damper, which increases the efficiency of the fan and extends its service life.

Advantages and disadvantages

The chimney must be regularly cleaned of soot in order for the damper to work.
Like any engineering structures, stove dampers have their pros and cons.

Advantages include:

• possibility of traction adjustment;
• saving fuel by reducing the volume of air supplied to the firebox;
• maintaining the heat of the stove after closing the chimney;
• blocking wind blowing.

Design disadvantages:

• throttle-type products are unreliable, they can jam and fail to close due to soot adhesion;
• rotating devices make it difficult and sometimes impossible to clean the channels;
• Correct adjustment requires experience and skill.

With proper installation and proper handling, dampers can make boiler firing more convenient, economical and safe.

Size calculation

Even an extra gap of a few millimeters can be the cause of improper operation of the air vent.

Step-by-step steps to resolve the issue are as follows:

1. First, take a tape measure to measure the size of the internal channel.
2. 20-30 mm is added to the result. The result is the size of the outer frame.
3. An opening for gas release is required for the finished valve.
4. The position for the welding holes is also marked as accurately as possible.

Installation features

In most cases, the ventilation damper is installed immediately before the fan outlet. If their location coincides, then the design is called a starting gate, then its task is to protect the fan power unit from overheating.

You need to understand that you need to start the fan only when the damper is in the closed position. Otherwise, it will be affected by additional load, which in turn will quickly lead to failure of electrical equipment.

Important!

If you decide to install a damper in a ventilation system with a direct chimney with your own hands, then you need to know that it is quite difficult to carry out maintenance and cleaning of such a design in the future.

Like any other design, a gate valve has its own installation features. There are two main ways to install it:

• pipe-to-pipe method - the mechanism is installed in the chimney due to its design, this principle does not imply the use of additional fasteners;
• the shut-off device is mounted in front of the chimney exit or in the stove, respectively, becoming part of the overall structure; in this case, the maximum height at which the damper can be located cannot exceed one meter.

There is also another method of installing the gate - flange. When using it, you need to pay attention to two factors:

• fasteners that secure the smoke exhaust must be located at a short distance from the gate; they cannot be installed together with the main mechanism;
• all fasteners must be located exclusively on one side of the flange;
• During the installation of a flange type connection, additional sealing must be provided.

Using stove valves allows you to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning. Information about the method of preserving heat in a stove is passed on from generation to generation. Everything is very simple, while the flame is burning - the damper should not be completely closed. Once the fire has gone out, the gate can be closed completely.

The valve, however, like any other mechanism, the creation of which does not necessarily require specialized tools, can be made independently without any problems. To do this, it is enough to have minimal theoretical knowledge and basic work skills.

Wafer connection

In addition: it is practiced to seal socket joints with silicone sealants. SNiP does not prohibit their use: at the end of the list of recommended materials, it stipulates the possibility of using sealing methods not included in this list.

Flange connection

For flange connections, SNiP separately stipulates some assembly features.

• The hanger or support securing the air duct must not rest on the flange.
• All bolts should be located on one side of the flange.

• When the flange is in a horizontal position, the bolts should be on top of it and the nuts on the bottom.

Why do you need a chimney damper - what is a damper, types, installation rules

A damper is a damper, a valve for a stove chimney, designed to improve draft in it. This part is made of metal. It is installed at the stage of construction of the chimney pipe and ventilation passage.

Draft is of great importance for the functioning of the heating unit. When it is strong enough, the fuel burns completely, resulting in reduced costs. When the draft is poor, a fire can occur at any moment, and to prevent this, install a damper for the stove or fireplace.

You can install a damper for a fireplace or heating unit in one of three ways:

1. The damper is installed directly in the fireplace insert. It is placed at a distance of 100 centimeters from the heating device, which makes it easy to control.
2. Combining the damper with other elements of the heating structure without the use of additional fasteners. This installation method is called “pipe to pipe”.
3. The damper is installed in ventilation pipes. It is used to prevent the fan motor from overheating during operation.

Since there are a variety of models of stove units and fireplaces and heating using them is carried out in different ways, each of them requires its own type of valve.

For example, for a stove operating on gas, you will need a classic rotary-type throttle valve or a rotary automatic damper, since they are capable of blocking the chimney pipe completely and then the flame will not be able to escape outside.

At the same time, rotary valves should not be installed when installing a sauna stove, since when closed they will allow steam to pass through, and in the open position they are very difficult to clean.

As a rule, a damper for a fireplace or stove unit is sold as a complete set along with a chimney. But there are smoke exhaust structures without a damper, so you can make one yourself by buying elements for it at a hardware store. The main thing to do before purchasing them is to decide on the required sizes.

t one row of bricks. The gate plays one of the main roles in the chimney, the purpose of which is to regulate draft. Good draft means that the efficiency of the entire heating system will be excellent and fuel savings will be obvious.

Before making the design and installing it yourself, consult a specialist who will calculate the draft level of your stove. For this, professionals use a special formula. Take care of yourself!

Self-installation of a gate valve

If you need to mount a damper for a brick kiln located in the house, you should do the following:

• first of all, lay out the first row of the chimney pipe from bricks;
• then make the next brick row and make a hole in it for a gate valve;
• In one of the bricks laid out in the second row, you need to create a groove for the handle for the valve of the fireplace or stove.

A groove is a recess or slot into which an object of a certain size can fit. This is a simple job that anyone can do.

The gate is also installed for heating boilers. It allows you to control the removal of gas particles, which leads to increased efficiency and economical consumption of fuel resources.

The slide damper is the main guarantee of fire safety when organizing stove heating; it is an essential part in the ventilation pipe, chimney and boiler.

A damper is one of the types of regulating and closing devices designed for installation in a ventilation system. The design of this element is not at all complicated; in terms of its operating principle and appearance, the part is similar to a furnace valve for a pipe.

The main component of the damper is a metal sheet that blocks the air flow if necessary.

Design

Scheme

The design of a gate valve provides for constant calculated pressure of the seat to the gate using special springs, independent of the pressure drop across the gate. The gate is made of carbon steel with a coating that ensures reliability when working in oil. The design of the valves makes it possible to inject sealing lubricant into the stuffing box and replace the spindle seal without reducing the operating pressure in the pipeline. The valve body is relieved from excess pressure created by the thermal expansion of the transported medium.

1 – Body 2 – Knife 3 – Seal 4 – Stuffing box 5 – Oil seal 6 – Rod 7 – Running nut 8 – Handwheel 9 – Yoke

In single-disk valves, the gate (gate) is made in the form of a shield with a ring having a hole in the lower part equal to the diameter of the passage, which moves down when the valve is closed. The passage is blocked by the blind part of the gate. The tightness of the passage is ensured by pressing the valve with medium pressure to the sealing surfaces of the seat on the low pressure side.

By the way, read this article too: Butterfly valve

Single disc gate valve

1 – gate; 2 – pipe; 3 – body; 4 – spindle and gate fastening unit; 5 – saddle; 6 – hairpin; 7 – sealing ring; 8 – gasket; 9 – top cover; 10 – stuffing box; 11 – pressure plate; 12 – spindle; 13 – casing; 14 – drive output element; 15 – stand.

Non-retractable spindle designs

Placing the “screw-nut” system in the valve would ideally provide both its compactness and easy access to the threaded pair for supplying lubricant and carrying out routine repairs without disassembly.

From a compactness point of view, it is preferable to place the running nut directly on the valve. In this case, the spindle makes only rotational movement and therefore the valve has a minimum height, determined only by the stroke of the valve and the length of the stuffing box. This design of valves is called “valves with a non-rising stem”.

In this case, the running thread is located inside the valve cavity and when opened, the spindle does not move out of the cover, maintaining its original height position. The running nut in these valves is connected to the shutter and, when the spindle rotates to open the passage, it seems to be screwed onto it, dragging the shutter along with it.

In valves with a non-retractable spindle, the running assembly is immersed in the working environment and is therefore susceptible to corrosion and abrasive particles in the working environment, access to it is closed and there is no possibility of maintenance during operation, which leads to a decrease in the reliability of the running and stuffing box units.

By the way, read this article too: Stop valve (valve)

Retractable spindle designs

Taking into account the disadvantages of valves with a non-rising spindle, they began to use designs in which the running nut is fixed in the flywheel or directly in the drive, i.e. outside the working cavity of the housing. In these designs, the spindle makes only translational motion and moves along with the shutter, as if moving out of the valve. The forward movement of the spindle ensures the best operating conditions for the stuffing box seal. The design allows you to replace a worn running nut without dismantling the valve, and sometimes without stopping the technological process.

Gate valve with extending spindle: 1 – position indicator; 2 – spindle casing; 3 – flywheel; 4 – running nut; 5 – stand; 6 – spindle; 7 – bolted connection of the rack with the cover; 8 – stuffing box; 9 – hole for releasing pressure from the cavity (supplying pressure into the cavity) of the housing; 10 – cover; 11 – bolted connection of the cover to the body; 12 – locking element (gate); 13– saddle; 14 – body; 15 – supports; 16 – protrusion of the sealing surface of the flanges; 17 – welding pipe; 18 – flange projection with a groove for the sealing ring A – face-to-face length with flanges with a connecting projection; B – face-to-face length with welded connections; C – face-to-face length with flanges with a groove for the sealing ring.

However, retractable spindle designs have the following disadvantages

:

1. increasing the height of the valve (due to the spindle exit);
2. the need to protect the threaded part of the spindle from contamination, corrosion and mechanical damage.

In this design, the spindle thread and the running nut are located outside the valve body. The lower end of the spindle is connected to the valve and when the running nut is rotated to open the valve, it makes only translational movement

, while the upper end of the spindle extends by the amount of stroke of the shutter.
To allow movement of the spindle, the running nut is raised above the top of the cover (that is, above the stuffing box) by approximately the amount of stroke of the valve in a design called a yoke assembly
.

Advantages

This design is the absence of harmful effects of the working environment on the running unit and free access for its maintenance, and therefore less wear of the stuffing box and higher reliability of the threaded pair and the stuffing box.

By the way, read this article too: Wedge Gate Valve

Frequent errors and problems during installation

There are several problems that most owners of this design face:

1. Install handles that do not allow you to track the position of the valve.
2. Carbon monoxide has nowhere to escape, there is no hole.
3. The surface is not smooth enough.
4. The use of thin grades of steel or stainless steel with a low nickel content. Such products quickly fail due to deformation under the influence of high temperatures.
5. A metal chimney with a cast iron part inside. Such parts are not compatible with each other.
6. A valve is installed in areas with insulation. Thermal expansion causes jamming.

Main features of a stainless steel gate

The chimney damper, made of stainless steel, will endure the high temperatures of the flue gases that are concentrated in the chimney. The thickness of steel used in the manufacturing process is usually 1 mm. To make it easier to clean the damper from soot deposited on the surface, the base is made even and smooth.

Boiler valves of this type are able to withstand high temperatures up to 900 °C, which is an important property of a heating system element. Stainless steel gate valves are resistant to corrosion and have high strength. They have a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which does not allow the part to change its size when the temperature inside the chimney fluctuates.

The products perfectly withstand the effects of heat exchange processes. The standard design covers the chimney cross-section by 85%. This value is optimal for removing carbon monoxide. This feature increases the fire safety of heating equipment.

Why do you need a chimney damper?

Chimney damper
The required elements of stove heating are chimney dampers. Traditionally, their main function was to retain heat. A closed valve blocked the possibility of combustion products escaping into the chimney. As a result, the furnace not only heated up, but accumulated heat, due to the fact that hot flue gases could not escape outside and gave up their thermal energy to the channels. But life, as we know, does not stand still and neither does technological progress. Therefore, it became possible to further increase the efficiency of a brick kiln using an element such as a chimney damper.

What does the gate give?

Just like traditional chimney dampers, a damper allows combustion products to open or close access to the chimney. In addition, it performs several other useful functions:

• Regulates traction.
• Reduces fuel consumption.

In old furnaces, a gate, as a rule, was not installed. If you want to make your stove heating more efficient, you should install this simple device. Modern furnaces, as a rule, already have a flange with a gate included, but it can also be purchased separately. The simplest gate can be made with your own hands.

Before buying or constructing a damper for a chimney with your own hands, it is worth understanding the principle of its operation. During combustion of the furnace, the valve partially blocks the cross-section of the pipe, allowing flue gases to escape through the pipe and, at the same time, regulates the draft force. After stopping the fire, by completely closing the chimney damper, the release of gases stops. Regulating the thrust force simultaneously allows you to control and change the intensity and speed of fuel combustion. In modern heating devices, a damper must be installed in boilers.

The gate valve differs from a traditional gate valve in several ways:

• Resistant to high temperatures (withstands heating up to +900 degrees).
• Corrosion resistant.
• The ability to block the chimney during combustion up to 85% of its cross-section.
• Good thermal conductivity.

Mounting the gate

If the chimney is made of brick, then installation work should be carried out no closer than 1 meter from the stove. To do this, the chimney must first be lined with a stainless steel chimney. This is the only way to avoid structural damage due to condensation and excessive soot deposited on the walls.

Since it is very difficult to make a gate valve for a chimney in a round pipe with your own hands, purchase rotary gate valves from trusted manufacturers who guarantee the quality and durability of their products.

Only a qualified specialist can correctly calculate the dimensions of all parts and select the best option for the chimney. The installation process itself, carried out by specialists, includes:

1. Chimney laying carried out by a specialist (first 7-9 rows).
2. Coating the top layer of bricks with a small amount of laying mortar.
3. Frame placement.
4. Applying the working solution for fixation.
5. Continuation of masonry according to the previously described scheme.

The final step is to seal the existing cracks. This is a necessary measure, the implementation of which allows not to disturb the traction force and prevent carbon monoxide from penetrating inside.