A chimney gate valve for a chimney is a device that is a damper for a chimney duct. The main function of such an element is to regulate the draft, so they are mounted at the beginning of the chimney design. As a rule, such elements are made with openings that do not completely block the air flow from the heater into the chimney duct.
The gate valve is installed in the chimney duct to regulate the draft
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Why do we need a slide gate valve?
Using the gate allows you to block the chimney channel after the operation of the furnace. The holes in this device prevent the plug section of the chimney from being completely blocked. It is worth remembering - the closed position of such a valve indicates that the chimney is not used, and the open means the beginning of the furnace.
The draft in the chimney is a very important indicator that determines not only the efficiency of the removal of combustion products from the chimney, but also the efficiency of the heating system as a whole. Therefore, the regulation of traction carried out using the slide element is very important. If the level of traction in the system exceeds the permissible parameters, it is necessary to adjust the position of the slide element. Such a valve regulates thrust by reducing or increasing the cross section of the chimney duct.
In addition, the gate elements perform another important function, which is to regulate the combustion of products in the heating device. The combustion rate is controlled by the fact that such an element regulates the movement of air flow inside the system. It should be noted that it is impossible to mount the gate products in the event that the processing of heating raw materials is carried out in the device due to the supply air flows.
The most durable and easy to maintain are stainless or galvanized gate valves
Typically, such products are made of stainless steel, which has good strength characteristics. The stainless steel is resistant to harmful corrosive influences, and is also resistant to active chemical compounds that form inside the chimney. The thickness of the gate ranges from 0.5 to 1 mm. Gates are characterized by high thermal stability and are able to withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius.
Helpful information! It is recommended to select shutters with a polished surface. Polished damper is easier to operate, easier to clean from soot.
The damper has rolling seams and is capable of blocking a rather large area of the chimney duct (up to 85 percent). Such characteristics made this product very popular among consumers.
Varieties of Gate Valves
Today, there are two main varieties of slide gates for chimney ducts. They differ in individual design features:
- horizontal gate for the chimney;
- rotary valve.
The draft adjustment in the chimney communication using a horizontal gate is quite simple: a plate is advanced that can block a certain part of the channel.As a rule, horizontal models of dampers are mounted in chimney constructions made of brick material. Installation of such products is carried out in a horizontal plane (hence the name).
Gate valves vary in design and shape, the rotary device is also called the gate
Horizontal gate products can also be installed on metal chimneys. In the plate, which extends and overlaps part of the chimney, at the production stage, holes are made or part of the plate itself is missing. In the case of self-production of the slide element for the chimney structure, you must definitely remember to make holes in the plate, otherwise the fire safety rules will not be observed.
The butterfly gate, which is also called the throttle, is a classic model and is a plate that is fixed in a round or square chimney pipe. The throttle model is fixed inside the pipe in such a way that the shutter can rotate around its own axis. It is worth noting that models of this type can be installed not only in chimneys, but also in pipes.
Gate Valve Selection Tips
It must be remembered that the correct selection of such an element as a slide gate valve is reflected in the future not only in the draft index, but also in the safety of the heating system, of which the chimney is a part. The installation of the gate is carried out on any model of fireplaces and stoves, except for the most modern ones, in which a deflector is present.
The main recommendations for choosing gate valves for chimney communication are as follows:
- if the heater functions due to gas processing, it is better to purchase a rotary shutter model. This is due to the fact that such models exclude the possibility of complete overlap of the chimney duct. Thus, the heating system will be more secure. The chimney that removes the combustion products from the gas furnace must be at least 40 percent shut off during operation;
- there are heating systems that function intermittently (periodic). A closed damper installed in such a heating structure, as a rule, lets steam through during delivery, and an open one contributes to the formation of a large amount of soot on the pipe, which is located below the plate;
- It is strongly not recommended to use rotary elements for installation in bath chimneys.
A rotary device is the most suitable option for a gas-consuming system
Note! The gate for the chimney is a shaped part of the chimney communication, so if you purchase everything you need to lay the chimney, it will come complete with pipes. Such shutters can be purchased in any specialized store or ordered using the online store on the Internet.
Experts recommend a thorough measurement of the cross section of the chimney duct before acquiring a gate product. Perhaps this is the main thing that needs to be done before acquiring the gate.
How to make a valve for a chimney with your own hands?
Many owners are interested in the question: how to make valves in round pipes? For a round or square chimney, you can do the valve yourself. For round constructions, a rotary valve is best suited, however, you can use a horizontal one.
The gate valve can be made with your own hands, since its design is very simple. Self-production of this shaped element of the chimney design is relevant if the nearest section does not have a valve of the required section.
The step-by-step process for manufacturing a chimney gate valve looks like this:
- First of all, it is necessary to prepare a frame in which the sliding plate will be located. It is recommended that the frame be made of heat-resistant stainless steel. The width of the shelves of steel corners should be from 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Docking of corners is carried out using welding equipment.
- At the second stage, you need to make a hole for the axis. It is worth remembering that if you need to perform a shutter with a “direct” turn, then it is recommended to drill a hole at a point that corresponds to the center of the parallel sides of the frame. And for devices that rotate at an angle, the hole is made diagonally.
- Next, you need to install special sleeves that can be made from ordinary pipes. The sleeve size should be approximately half an inch, which corresponds to 1.25 cm. Welding equipment must be used to install the tubes. The bushings should not interfere with the movement of the axis of the bar.
- Then, the workpiece is selected under the gate plate. To do this, you need a stainless steel sheet of the appropriate thickness, from which you need to cut a part suitable for the cross section of your chimney. It is worth noting that the thickness of the shutter can be higher than 1 mm (for example, 2 or 3 mm).
- At the fifth stage, the finished plate is inserted into the frame and welded to its axis. Experts advise to leave a small gap between the frame and the plate (at least 1 mm).
- The restrictive element is fixed, which is necessary to hold the gate plate in the desired position.
- And, finally, it remains only to attach a handle to the axis, which is necessary to regulate the position of the valve.
Installing the gate in the chimney
Today, there are two main ways to install a gate on a chimney:
- Installation in a fireplace insert. This installation option implies the location of the gate product in the immediate vicinity of the heating equipment. As a rule, in this case the distance from the gate to the heating apparatus is 1 meter. This arrangement is very convenient for regulating the valve.
- Connection with other elements of the heating system. In this case, there is no need to use additional locking elements, so this option is quite common. Such an installation can also be called "pipe to pipe."
Helpful information! In addition, it is worth noting that the gate product can be installed in the ventilation system. A gate valve for ventilation is necessary to eliminate the possibility of overheating of the fan motor. The fan motor may overheat during shutdown.
The above options for the use of valves for chimneys and ventilation systems are used everywhere. It is worth noting that today you can find a huge variety of stoves and fireplaces, which differ from each other from a structural point of view. Such a variety of heating devices has affected the range of slide gates. Therefore, the choice of the damper for the chimney depends entirely on the characteristics of the heater and the chimney design in a particular case.
