Have you noticed that your fires aren’t burning as efficiently as last year? Do you have a cold draft coming out of your fireplace when it isn’t in use? Does smoke enter your home when you start a fire? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then your chimney damper is likely broken.
Your chimney damper does an important job of controlling airflow in your chimney and fireplace. If your damper is broken, this can lead to all sorts of issues. At TN Fireplace & Chimney, we want your fireplace to be a place where you enjoy the warmth and glow of a comforting fire. If you are having damper issues, let us help. Our trained professionals can assess your fireplace and give you all the guidance you need.
How does a damper work?
Your damper is designed to control the airflow coming in and out of your chimney. It does this by either allowing air to flow out of your chimney when your fireplace is in use, or blocking air from entering your home when you are not using your fireplace. This is done by either opening or blocking fireplace access to the outside of your home, usually with the help of a damper.
Dampers consist of a metal frame with rows of iron flaps inside that frame. Traditionally, dampers sit right above your fireplace. These type of dampers are called throat dampers. Although throat dampers work pretty well at blocking air from coming into your home, their location above the fireplace leaves the rest of your chimney susceptible to cold air. This can cool areas of your home adjacent to your chimney, while also raise home heating costs. Throat dampers also do not protect your chimney opening from debris, moisture, and animal intrusion.
Top Sealing Dampers
If your throat damper has rusted, or is getting too old to function properly, now is a great time to switch to a top sealing Lock-Top or Lyemance damper. These types of dampers block air at the top of your chimney, instead of in the throat. Because they are further away from the heat source, this means that they can use a rubber gasket around the opening instead of just metal on metal, creating a tighter seal. This also means that the inside of your chimney stay warmer, and this helps to increase your home’s heating efficiency. Since they seal at the top, top sealing dampers don’t allow debris, rain, and animals to invade your chimney either!
Let us help
You don’t have to live with a smokey or drafty fireplace anymore. Let one of our expert chimney technicians at TN Fireplace & Chimney come and install a new top sealing damper today. Call Knoxville’s only Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney technicians today at (865) 922-2262 or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!
