If you have been noticing an increase in your heating and cooling bills, your old damper may be the reason. Traditional throat dampers are made of metal, which can become damaged over the years by rust corrosion. A rusty damper can be almost impossible to close, and this means heated and cooled air can easily escape out of your home through the chimney. You will also have problems with outside air entering your home, which makes maintaining a comfortable temperature a big challenge. Fortunately, there is another type of damper that can solve these problems — the top-sealing damper. On sites like Chimneys.com, chimney professionals strongly recommend updating old throat dampers with top-sealing dampers. All Seasons Chimney agrees, and we would like to tell you why these dampers are so highly recommended.
Provide an airtight seal
Top-sealing dampers are equipped with a silicone rubber gasket that seals off your chimney at the top, which means outside air will not be able to get into your chimney when the damper is closed. Additionally, there will be no draft inside the chimney to pull out heated and cooled air from your home. Even when there is no rusting damage, throat dampers cannot seal as tightly as top-sealing dampers can.
Increase energy efficiency
Since top-sealing dampers keep heated and cooled air inside your home while keeping outside air out, you will see a huge improvement in the energy efficiency of your home. You will be able to be more comfortable without overrunning your heating and cooling system. This means you will be spending less money every month on your utility bills. A top-sealing damper is a great way to save both money and energy.
Serves as a chimney cap
When a top-sealing damper is closed, it functions just like a chimney cap at keeping out water, birds, and wild animals. You can also find top-sealing dampers at All Seasons Chimney that are equipped with mesh metal sides that allow the damper to act as a chimney cap even when the damper is open. We even suggest installing a top-sealing damper when we need to replace a damaged chimney cap.
Easy to operate
With some throat dampers, you practically have to stick your head up the chimney through the firebox to be able to open and close it. Older throat dampers also have a tendency to get stuck in a position and be difficult to adjust. Even though a top-sealing damper is located at the top of the chimney, a metal cable from the damper is dropped down the chimney to be attached to the firebox on a handle that easily opens and closes the damper.
Save money and energy with a new top-sealing damper. Contact us at All Seasons Chimney to learn more about our damper sales and installation services.
Before you light your first fire of the year this fall, you need to have your chimney professionally swept and inspected. Fire safety organizations, including the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommend these chimney maintenance services be done in the summer to be sure your fireplace and chimney pose no hazards. Summertime can be a very busy season with vacations and summer camps, and All Seasons Chimney understands that making your chimney sweep appointment can slip your mind. When you forget to schedule your chimney sweeping before fall, you may have to wait for a few weeks before we will be able to get to your chimney. Our CSIA-certified chimney sweeps have full calendars from September to December, so it can be hard making the appointment on the date that works best for you. To help you be sure your chimney has been cleaned and inspected every summer, we offer the option of forward scheduling your sweeping appointment. This option allows you to guarantee that your fireplace will be ready to use as soon as you wish. We would like to tell you why an annual chimney sweeping and inspection is so important for your chimney to work safely and efficiently.