Need a New Chimney Damper? Ashbusters Sells & Installs the Best on the Market
You go to open the chimney damper, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t get the mechanism to budge. Now, instead of lighting a cozy fire, you’re typing “chimney damper repair near me” into Google – and you’re cold while doing it.
The good news is that if you’re a homeowner in the Nashville area experiencing issues with any part of your fireplace or chimney system – including a faulty damper – Ashbusters Chimney Service is a mere phone call away. A full chimney service, maintenance, and repair company, we’re the team that can do it all.
Ready to schedule your appointment? Give us a ring at 615-459-2546, or if you’d prefer, fill out this appointment request form right here on our website. We’d love to help you enjoy your fireplace as it was intended once again!
What Is a Chimney Damper & How Does It Work?
For homeowners lucky enough to have a fireplace, one of the most important things you can do for the health and safety of your appliance is familiarize yourself with all the various components. Depending on your existing knowledge, you’ve potentially heard of a lot of different chimney and fireplace-related terms like the flue, the chimney liner, the firebox, cap, crown, etc., etc.
But, it’s not as often that people know a whole lot about a chimney or fireplace damper – despite the very important role that it plays in the system’s overall functionality.
Chimney dampers come in one of two options, the style of which is dependent on the location:
- Throat dampers
- Top-sealing dampers
Regardless of which one you have, all chimney dampers work to perform the same function: they create or inhibit airflow through the chimney flue. Shaped similarly to a door of sorts, the damper is attached to a manual mechanism that allows you to open it when you have a fire burning and close it when the system is not in use, creating an insulated seal.
What’s the Difference Between a Throat Damper & a Top-Sealing Damper?
What’s the difference between these two kinds of chimney dampers?
Throat dampers
Labeled as such due to their location right above the firebox at the entrance to the smoke chamber (which leads to the flue), throat dampers are commonly found in older appliances. They’re usually constructed of cast iron, regular or stainless steel, and because of their close proximity to the fire’s flames, they are at risk of getting warped due to the intense heat created when the fireplace is in use. If and when this happens, they’ll no longer create the effective seal that they’re designed for and the whole system will experience inefficiencies.
Top-sealing dampers
Like the name suggests, a top-sealing chimney damper is one that is installed on the very top of the flue where a chimney cap is traditionally found. However, unlike a chimney cap that just acts as a stationary barrier between the vulnerable chimney flue and the outside elements, a top-sealing damper performs several important functions.
While a top-sealing damper certainly does an excellent job at keeping moisture, animals, and any other debris from entering the system when it’s in use, it also creates an incredibly strong seal when it is closed because of the way it is designed. The ability to seal off the flue at the very top – as opposed to right above the firebox – not only prevents moisture, flying debris, and cold air from harming the insides of your structure and affecting combustion, but also ensures your appliance will operate efficiently.
No matter the fuel type or the specific kind of fireplace/chimney appliance, complete combustion requires new, fresh air – and a chimney functions based on the fact that hot air rises when cold air is drawn in. This means that operating a system with a damaged (or missing) damper can not only be frustrating and smoky, but dangerous, too.
If you’ve begun to notice inefficiencies that seem to be related to your chimney draft or general airflow, it’s very possible the issue lies with your damper. Fortunately, that’s where we come in. We can take a look at your existing damper and replace it with a brand new better one. You can reach us online by filling out this appointment request form or give us a call at 615-459-2546 and we’d be happy to set something up.
What Dampers Do You Sell?
Here at Ashbusters Chimney Service, we stand by high-quality top-mount dampers – more specifically, the Energy Top Chimney Damper. Aside from the fact that this damper is available in six different sizes to accommodate various flue sizes, there are a lot of other benefits associated with the Energy Top. Here’s what we love about this specific product:
- Four-season protection for your chimney
- When closed, the damper seals in your heat and air conditioning
- Locks out birds, animals, insects, and other debris
- Serves as a low profile chimney cap when closed
- Replaces leaky throat dampers
- Has an easily accessible handle mounted inside of fireplace
- Precision engineered mechanism is easier to open and close than throat dampers
- Best upgrade for older systems with missing or damaged dampers
- Constructed of stainless steel and aluminum, so components will not rust or corrode
- Always opens to a pre-set height
- Defaults to open position for maximum safety
- Lifetime Warranty
Plus, because of the simplistic profile and sleek design, these Energy Top dampers are fast and easy to install when you work with a professional company like Ashbusters. That way, you can get back to enjoying your fireplace as soon as possible, without worrying about a delay in your chimney’s protection.
How Does the Energy Top Damper Work?
So, how does this top-mount damper work exactly? Well, when the damper is closed, it performs the important job of a chimney cap and protects the vulnerable flue from anything finding its way inside. And in this closed position, the Energy Top damper is virtually invisible from the ground, so creating an eye-sore on top of your system is never a fear.
When you want to enjoy a fire in your fireplace, all you have to do to open the damper is pull on the cable that releases the spring-loaded top into the open position. And unlike most throat dampers that are rather difficult to open and close due to their placement within the structure, the Energy Top damper’s cable is conveniently accessible via a bracket attached to the outside of the fireplace.
Is a Fireplace Damper Necessary?
Yes, without a doubt. Despite the simplistic external appearance, chimneys are actually quite complex structures with lots going on out of sight within the walls. If it weren’t for the numerous composite parts and pieces – like the damper, flue liner, smoke shelf, cap, etc. – that make up the appliance, operation would not only be inefficient, but dangerous too.
Let’s put it this way: If a chimney cap is necessary to effectively protect the flue from contact with outside elements – like moisture, flying debris, animals, and more – why would a damper be any different? Considering its main purpose is to establish a sealed barrier between the inside of your home and the outdoors, having a functional damper is essential, even if you don’t regularly utilize your fireplace. Otherwise, you not only run the risk of losing heat up the chimney, but it’s also that much easier for cold air and other things to get in.
Ready to finally get that finicky damper replaced by a high-quality one made to last? Call the pros here at Ashbusters Chimney Service at 615-459-2546 to set up an appointment today. Alternatively, you can reach us through our website by filling out this form.
Does the Energy Top Damper Work With All Chimneys?
Unfortunately, the answer is no – they do not. Due to its design, the Energy Top damper can only be installed in traditional wood-burning masonry fireplaces.
Why? Because prefabricated chimneys and other fuel sources (such as vented and ventless gas logs) have different stipulations and venting requirements. For instance, vented logs that utilize a traditional vertical chimney must have the damper either removed or permanently maneuvered into the open position so that all soot, exhaust fumes, and other harmful gases produced during combustion do not enter the home. These kinds of dampers are also not suitable for use with inserts that have been installed into a masonry chimney because their combustion and exhaust production is different from an open-facing wood-fueled fireplace.
In the closed position, above, the Energy Top serves as a chimney cap.
Energy Top damper shown in the open position when the fire is burning.
How Much Is a Fireplace Damper?
That’s a great question. Unfortunately, the answer is not quite so simple. Like so much else in this industry, the final cost of fireplace and chimney services and products is dependent on several different factors. For that reason, we never advertise any pricing on our site. Prices can vary so greatly – even between the same product or service – simply due to things such as the size, condition of the structure, difficulty of access, and more.
However, just because we don’t publicize the numbers does not mean we’re hiding them either. We are always more than willing to talk quotes and estimates when we connect with you and learn a bit more about your specific chimney – and what you’re looking for. All you have to do is get in touch with someone from our team to start the process, and we’ll handle the rest, ensuring you remain informed of every detail along the way.
Want to learn more? Just fill out this appointment request form on our website, or give us a call at 615-459-2546. The highly knowledgeable and Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified techs here at Ashbusters would be happy to discuss the cost and installation process of an Energy Top damper for your chimney…and set you up with an appointment to get the ball rolling!
Can I Retrofit a Chimney Damper to My Existing Structure?
Absolutely! Though, the specifics of which type of damper might vary depending on your chimney. For the most part, no matter which kind of chimney you have (traditional brick masonry or prefabricated), the easiest and most efficient replacement is to have a top-mount chimney damper installed.
…and while the Energy Top chimney damper might not be a viable option for every system, it’s not the only top-mount damper available. There are a variety of top-sealing dampers out there that are designed for use in many different appliances to help provide your chimney with adequate airflow when it’s running, and properly seal it off when it’s not.
Do Dampers Help With Energy Efficiency?
Indeed, they do. Remember earlier when we said that dampers help prevent you from cold drafts entering your home and heated air leaving? That’s because your chimney damper should only ever be open when you’re actively enjoying a fire – it creates the draft that allows fresh combustion air in and spent exhaust fumes out.
When there is not a fire, however, the damper should always be closed so all the warm air created by your central heating remains where it should – inside of your home – and does not escape through the open chimney.
Who wants to pay for heat that will just get drawn up and out of your home? With a properly fit and good condition damper in place, that’s never something you have to worry about. You won’t have to pay more to accommodate for the chilly draft created by the difference in temperature between your home and the chilly air outside. So, even when you’re not sitting in front of the fire, you can relax knowing that all the heat and energy you’re paying for is being used properly and efficiently.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Top-Sealing Chimney Damper?
We’ve gone over most of these already, but there are a ton of benefits of installing a top-sealing damper. Let’s recap some of the biggest:
- They act as a low profile chimney cap when closed
- They’re easier to operate and maneuver than their throat damper counterparts
- They’re constructed of high-quality materials that create a strong seal at the top of the flue
- Their placement prohibits animal intrusion, moisture damage, and debris entry at the very top of the system (as opposed to partway down)
- They increase energy efficiency and are easily installed by professionals
Ready To Replace Your Chimney Damper? Call Ashbusters, Today!
Is it time to have your chimney damper replaced? Ready to switch out your hard-to-reach throat damper with one that has numerous other benefits? Ask us about the Energy Top top-mount damper and if it would be a good fit for your system!
And don’t forget about everything else we offer… In need of someone to come out and perform your annual chimney sweep? Has your masonry seen better days and you’re on the hunt for a company that can help with some intensive repairs? Experiencing a smoky fire or other chimney draft issues? We can handle it all.
Get in touch with one of the highly trained and friendly team members here at Ashbusters Chimney Service by calling 615-459-2546 or fill out this appointment request form through our website. We’d love to work with you!
Talk to us about installing the right chase cover for your prefabricated chimney system and rest easy knowing it will last for years to come.