Jags said:joecool85 said:**edit**
Also, stoves are more efficient wide open, much less efficient when damped down to put out less heat.
I'm not sure that this is true at all. At wide open throttle, much more heat is escaping up the stack instead of radiating to the room. That would equate to a loss of efficiency. Also, at WOT there is typically more particulates that go up the stack. That equates to fuel. This is just my rambling thoughts, but I am ready to learn.
The damper can stay open all the time, just control the heat with the intake air control. When you turn it down, the fire can start to smolder instead of getting a nice clean burn with secondary burning etc.