damping? is this part installed correctly

[wdoa]

could someone tell me if the part in this picture is supposed to be opened or closed by default

I can make the part open or closed by default by spinning it around in the pipe like so

What exactly is it supposed to do, it would seem to be bad to have any part that would provide a mechanism for the exhaust to vent into the house.
Thanks,
-Mike

[HayZee518]

the counterweight should be down. it is called a barometric damper. its purpose is to introduce air from the room to the flue when the burner is on. as heat rises it creates an upward flow of exhaust gases and draws in air to mix with the exhaust sort of like a partial vacuum and cools the exhaust gases,

[wdoa]

the counterweight should be down. it is called a barometric damper. its purpose is to introduce air from the room to the flue when the burner is on. as heat rises it creates an upward flow of exhaust gases and draws in air to mix with the exhaust sort of like a partial vacuum and cools the exhaust gases,

Thank you for the info! One further question, when the piece is set with the counterweight down it stays open (with the furnace completely off) as in the top picture. Is it functioning correctly if it stays open when the furnace is running?

[HayZee518]

the counterweight is supposed to be adjusted so that the flapper is closed or as close to be closed as possible. when the burner kicks on the rising exhaust gases produce a partial vacuum that should open the flapper proportional to the draft that is needed.