Dampers sit either at the base of your fireplace or the top, serving an important role both when the fireplace is in use and when it isn’t. When flames are out, they seal the system up tight, ensuring no downdrafts can enter your home and affect your heating and cooling preferences. (This helps keep monthly bills in check too.)
And when your fireplace is running? Then, they can be opened wide to let out smoke and fumes, ensuring they’re guided safely out of your home. Sometimes, dampers can even be adjusted to allow more or less oxygen to your flames, helping you control the intensity of your burn.
Here at The Chimney Guys, we install both throat and top-sealing dampers. Ask us about your options and what would be best for your system. Our experts are knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to help you out.
The Pros & Cons of Top-Sealing Dampers
Wondering if a top-sealing damper is right for your wood-burning fireplace? There are a few big benefits to gain if you’re looking to make the switch.
- They seal tightly with a rubber gasket. This helps prevent damage and leaves your chimney better protected from rain, snow, debris, and curious critters when your fireplace isn’t in use.
- They seal at the top of your flue, keeping it warmer when fires aren’t lit. This is good for both keeping your home toastier and for making fires easier to start when the time comes.
- They reduce home heating costs. Because they seal tightly and keep your chimney free of freezing temps, you won’t experience cold air leaking into your home when you’re trying to run the heat.
And the cons?
The biggest downside to top-sealing dampers is that they should only be used with wood-burning systems. This means that if you have a prefab system or use gas logs, they won’t work for you.
They’re also known for being more expensive initially than throat dampers. That said, when you consider what you save on heating/cooling costs, as well as damages you’re now more likely to avoid, things even out pretty quickly.
What’s Best for You?
Which setup is best for you? Call our team now to discuss your options. We’ve been serving Columbus and its surrounding cities since 2004, and we’d love to help you out.
We can be reached online or by dialing (614) 446-1221. Thanks for making us your trusted team for it all.
One chimney repair that is better done sooner than later is fixing chimney leaks. Call us today!
