Fireplace dampers, most of them located just above the firebox and called “throat dampers,” are fairly simple components that do several very important jobs. You probably use yours regularly during our cold Connecticut and New Jersey winters. But what about during the summer?
National Chimney Cleaners of Fairfield County, CT, and Morris County, NJ, have a few tips on damper use in the summer.
Main Function of a DamperDampers open and close to regulate air flow between the chimney flue and the home. When starting a fire in the fireplace, an open damper draws optimal air through the logs and gets the fire burning aggressively.
After the fire is going, you can adjust the opening of the damper to control its intensity. When the fire is done, the damper can be closed completely.
1. Debris and animals
Think of a damper like a window without a screen: if it’s wide open, anything that’s outside can get inside. Where a chimney and the damper at its base is concerned, this might include birds, snakes, dust, debris and who knows what all. Your damper should be closed in the summer to prevent outside stuff from getting into your home.
Note that a custom chimney cap at the top of your chimney will keep out tree debris and animals. If you have a cap that’s warped, rusted or otherwise damaged, let us repair it and stop the intrusion.
2. Odors
A closed damper helps to reduce flue odors that are usually intensified during the hot months. Annual chimney sweeping will remove a lot of the odor-causing substances, such as creosote and soot, but it’s impossible to completely stop the smells.
3. Air exchange
When it’s roasting-hot outside and your AC is going full blast, an open damper will draw conditioned air from the home where it’s needed and send it outside where it isn’t. Shut the damper to keep cool air inside.
Many homeowners aren’t aware that throat dampers above the firebox aren’t the only kind of damper available for your chimney system. Top-mount chimney dampers, installed at the top of your chimney, perform the same functions as throat dampers and bring a few additional benefits.
Top-mount dampers control air flow during fires and seal off air flow during the summer. They also act as chimney caps, protecting the flue opening from animal and debris intrusion and the concrete chimney crown from damaging rain.
Another important benefit for those of us who live in cold-weather regions is that, when closed, top-mount dampers help to keep the flue warmer in the winter. Cold air is heavier than warm air, so a warmer flue won’t be as likely to impede warm smoke from rising up and out of the chimney.
Help with your Damper IssuesIf your throat damper is rusted and hard to operate, let us either repair it or replace it with a new one. If you think a top-mount damper would be ideal for your home, we’re happy to install one for you.
National Chimney Cleaners provides damper repair and replacement services, along with chimney sweeping, chimney inspections, chimney repairs and chimney rebuilding.
Reach a chimney expert today by calling (800) 631-6177. You can also use our contact form.
