Everyone loves the look and comfort of a fireplace; it’s cozy to settle down in front of a crackling fire, and it just adds a nice ambiance to any room. But it’s important to be aware of the fact that there is some work involved in upkeep and repair of your fireplace. It’s pretty common knowledge that you should have your fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected on a yearly basis, and when repairs need to be completed, that having them done sooner could save you big dollars in the long run. This goes to structural repair or to parts replacement as well. If you find that your chimney is in need of some work, it’s important to remember that spending a little extra now can end up saving you big money in the future.
Dampers
Take, for instance, your damper. The damper is an important piece of any chimney system, filling several important functions. The damper is a piece of equipment that works to seal your chimney when it’s not being used. When you build a fire, you open the damper to allow air in that will help with combustion and also allow smoke to escape up your chimney rather than out into your home. When you aren’t using your fireplace, you close the damper to keep the warm air from your home from escaping up the chimney, and also to keep the cold outside air from flowing down your chimney and into your home. You wouldn’t leave a door or window open in the middle of winter, would you? The damper acts in just the same way as your door or window does.
At Chimney Doctors of Colorado, when we come in and inspect your chimney, one thing we’ll be checking is the damper system. It can, over time, lose its seal, and this means that your warm air could be escaping, costing you money in energy bills. And if that’s the case, we might recommend that your dampers be replaced and that a top sealing damper is a route to take. Although a top sealing damper may cost a bit more initially, in the long run, the benefits may outweigh the initial costs.
Benefits of a Top Sealing Damper
A top sealing damper works much like a throat damper, sealing off your chimney when it’s not in use and stopping cold outside air from entering your home. This will save you from more expensive heating bills. An added benefit of a top sealing damper is that, because it sits at the top of your chimney, it keeps precipitation, critters, and other possible obstructive elements from entering your home. That means less likelihood of structural damage from precipitation damage and less likelihood of chimney fires from obstructions catching sparks from your fire.
Experienced, Caring Professionals
At Chimney Doctors of Colorado, we want to make sure that you get the damper that will best suit your needs. We offer complete customer satisfaction with each and every transaction. Give us a call today!