Chimney Care Company's Blog
What does a chimney damper do?
Chimneys are relatively simple to use with a few working components. One exception is the chimney damper. Most homeowners are familiar with the routine of opening and closing the chimney damper before and after they use their fireplaces. But what exactly does a chimney damper do? What is the best way to operate your chimney damper?
What chimney dampers do?
Your chimney provides a portal to your home’s exterior so that smoke from your fireplace can safely exit. The damper sits just above the firebox at the base of the chimney. Most dampers are a simple metal flap that opens out of the way to let smoke exit your home when the fireplace is in use, and they closes to keep the warm air from exiting your home.
Without a damper, your chimney is an open window to the outside. Cold drafts can blow down your damper. Animals and debris can also find their way into your home without a barrier between your chimney and fireplace. When your fireplace isn’t in use, the warm air from your home rises up and out of the home. Without a chimney damper in place when your fireplace isn’t in use, you can dramatically lower your home’s efficiency and increase your wintertime home-heating costs.
How chimney dampers work?
While chimney dampers are simple to use, they do require proper operation to keep it working properly. Before you light a fire in your fireplace, you need to make sure your damper is completely opened. If your damper is closed, then smoke from your fireplace will come pouring back into your home. You do have to be sure that the damper is open. If a damper isn’t open entirely, it can cause your fire to burn less efficiently or extinguish entirely. In some cases, smoke from your chimney might find its way into your home. After a fire has extinguished completely, close the damper to be sure that you don’t lose heat from your home or suffer from cold drafts.
Dampers are very important, and they do eventually fail. Moisture and excessive heat can cause the metal components of the damper to rust or warp. This can prevent it from closing completely or cause it to get stuck in the open or closed position. If your damper is no longer operating effectively or easily, call the team at Chimney Care Co! We can find a chimney damper that works effectively for you home!