What is the purpose of a flue baffle?

The purpose of a flue baffle is to slow down the movement of exhaust gases within the flue. By doing so, it helps to increase the amount of time that the exhaust gases are in contact with the heat exchanger, which can improve the overall efficiency of the heating system. This interaction ensures that more heat is transferred from the flue gases to the air being heated before the gases exit the furnace. As a result, this contributes to better fuel utilization and can lead to reduced energy costs for the homeowner.

While options like increasing gas flow, aiding in ignition, or regulating temperature may be relevant aspects of furnace operation, they do not accurately describe the specific function of a flue baffle, which is primarily focused on optimizing heat exchange through the management of exhaust flow.