Dampers are an essential component of a fireplace. They let smoke and other dangerous gases escape through your chimney instead of being regurgitated back into your home. Chimney dampers seal off your home from elements such as rain and snow that can waterlog your firebox. It also keeps warm air in during the winter and hot air out during the summer. Another feature of the chimney damper is preventing wildlife from getting into your chimney or fireplace. If your damper wasn’t there, any number of creatures could make your chimney their home. So, with those facts on display, here is why you should upgrade your chimney damper.
As we have established, a fireplace damper plays a crucial part in the operation and safety of a fireplace. In addition to serving as a gatekeeper, chimney dampers regulate the draft that allows your fire to light and smoke to vacate your chimney. Located inside the flue (the tube in your chimney), your damper can be opened to let smoke and toxic gases ventilate when a fire is lit and can be shut to stave off heat from escaping when the fireplace is dormant. The correct use of a damper promotes efficient fires and assists in keeping indoor temperatures pleasant.
Over time, your damper may encounter a number of issues that lead to it needing to be replaced. Here are a few of the common damper problems:
Rust is the most obvious issue, especially in homes built prior to 1990. Year after year of exposure to water and corrosives can bring about the inevitable formation of rust. When this happens, your damper may be frozen in the open or closed position.
As is common with rust, a damper can develop a number of pinholes that let air out and water in.
If any of the components of a damper brake off, become loose, or seize, it will result in your damper being stuck as well.
Another problem related to your damper and time is creosote buildup. Creosote is a sticky, tar-like substance that is generated by burning wood in your fireplace. Not only is it highly flammable, but it can also end up entombing your damper in a thin shell (especially if the chimney hasn’t been swept in some time).
After years of expanding and contracting from being heated up by a fire and then cooling off, a damper can become warped. When a damper is warped, it will make sealing your chimney off more difficult, especially if it is a throat damper.
There are a number of reasons you should replace your chimney damper, especially if you have any of the above issues. Here are some additional reasons why you should upgrade your chimney damper:
One of the main reasons you should upgrade your chimney damper is lower power bills. If your damper won’t shut properly or has holes in it, the season doesn’t matter; you will have higher energy bills year-round.
If your chimney damper can’t shut or has holes in it, that means all sorts of moisture can get into your fireplace. Have you noticed a strong, dank smell in your fireplace after a rainstorm? It’s likely because your damper is broken or malfunctioning, letting precipitation in. When your fireplace becomes damp, its dark environment creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew growth.
If you have an older house, built sometime in the middle of the last century or older, then your damper is definitely outdated. A new damper will be easier to open and shut and will protect your chimney better than its predecessor.
National Chimney Cleaners Can Upgrade Your Chimney DamperDo you have an older chimney? Have you noticed a damp odor in your chimney? Is your chimney damper hard to open and shut? If you answered yes to any of these questions, get in touch with us today. We can help you upgrade your chimney damper so that it’s easier to use, will keep out the weather and wildlife, and lower your power bills. Don’t put up with a worn-out damper a minute longer; reach out to us today.
And while we’re at it, ask about our professional chimney sweeps—removing creosote and debris helps your chimney work safely and efficiently year-round.
