According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a damper is a crucial component of every chimney. Necessary for an energy-efficient home, the damper keeps the heat in and the cold air out of your house, which reduces your heating costs. Your damper is also used to control the flow of smoke, gases, and the other byproducts of combustion up the chimney to exit your home. Available in two different types, you can choose between the throat damper and the top-mounted damper. Also known as the traditional fireplace damper, a throat damper is installed right above the firebox and is found in many old masonry chimneys. However, this type of damper has many flaws and issues. At The Mad Hatter, we strongly recommend the top-mounted damper over the throat damper. We would like to share with you why we feel this way by telling you the advantages of the top mount damper over a traditional throat model.
This clip is courtesy of Richie Baxley at Environmental Chimney Service in Asheville NC.
A top-mount damper serves two functions, allowing you to “kill two birds with one stone.”
One of the main advantages of a top-mount damper is that it also serves as a chimney cap when the damper is closed, and, frankly, this type of damper actually gives you better protection than an ordinary chimney cap. Equipped with a silicone rubber gasket that seals in heated air during the winter and cooled air during the summer,, a top-mount damper also gives you an air-tight seal to keep out water, debris, birds, squirrels, and raccoons — just as a chimney cap would. When our customers need a new chimney cap, The Mad Hatter will recommend that they install a top-mount damper instead of a chimney cap. Some models of top-mount dampers come with caps, so even when the damper is open, your chimney is still protected from debris and animals.
A top-mount damper will save you both energy and money.
Throat dampers just do not completely seal as well as top-mount dampers, and this fact can cost you a lot of money. You will not have to worry about cold air, ice, and snow entering your flue to create a cold core in your chimney. A cold core tries to cool your home at the same time that your heating system is trying to warm it up, which is a waste of both fuel and money. As a top mount damper sits atop your chimney, cold air never even has a chance to get anywhere inside because your entire flue is sealed air-tight with the silicone rubber gasket. Believe us when we say you will save money on both cooling and heating bills when you install a top mount damper as it is so much more efficient than the typical throat damper.
A top-mount damper is easy to operate.
With some throat dampers, you must practically stick your head up the fireplace to open and close them. This is not only very inconvenient, but it can also be very dangerous When you have a top mount damper, opening and closing the damper is simple. A stainless steel cable from the damper drops down the chimney and connects to an easily-accessible handle which is mounted inside the firebox. Different models will have different opening and closing methods, but The Mad Hatter guarantees you will find all easy to use.
Want to know more about the benefits of top mount dampers? Contact The Mad Hatter to find out even more advantages to this type of damper over the throat damper.