Your chimney and fireplace system is made up of several components, and each part plays an important role in the safe and efficient operation of the entire system. Understanding what each component is and what it does can be helpful when you are troubleshooting chimney problems or looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency in your home. For years, Blue Ridge Chimney Services has been providing the Shenandoah Valley with superior professional chimney maintenance, repair, and installation services, and one of the chimney components that we are most often asked about is the damper. We would like to tell you more about this essential chimney and fireplace component.
How does my damper work?
This essential chimney component allows you to adjust the air flow into your home between the fireplace and the chimney. If you have ever had smoke come back into your home through the fireplace after lighting a fire, it is a good chance that According to Do It Yourself , the damper can be moved into the opened and closed positions by pulling a latch or chain or by adjusting a handle. The location of the damper depends on the type of damper that you have installed in your chimney. If you have a traditional throat damper, it should be directly above the firebox of your fireplace. The other type of damper, the top-mounted damper, is named after its location at the very top of the chimney.
What are the differences between a traditional throat damper and a top-mounted damper?
If you have an older masonry chimney and fireplace, you most likely have a throat damper. Made of metal, this traditional type of damper can suffer from corrosion damage after years of usage that can make it difficult to adjust into the opened or closed position. If you cannot open your damper, it is not safe to use your fireplace, and if your damper cannot be completely closed, heated and cooled air will be able to escape out of the chimney. This can be costly and is not energy efficient. Over our years of serving the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Chimney Services has updated many chimneys by replacing this type of damper with the top-mounted version. We guarantee that you will see a decrease in your monthly heating and cooling bills after we have installed a top-mounted damper. What allows this type of damper to work so well is its silicone rubber seal that keeps air from leaking out of your home.
If you are having trouble adjusting your throat damper, Blue Ridge Chimney Services can replace it with a more energy efficient top-mounted damper. Contact us today to learn more about reducing your utility costs.