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How Chimney Dampers Can Save You Money

Wood Burning Fireplace

Homeowners with an open burning fireplace should always use the chimney damper to ensure heat is not escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use.

Many homeowners who have and enjoy a beautiful fireplace during these arctic winters actually lose money every year on energy costs because of their chimney damper. In fact, experts say that 8% of the heating costs for the average home can be accounted for as heat lost through the chimney. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Your chimney damper should, of course, be closed when the fireplace is not in use. When the damper is open, it is about the same as opening a window and allowing your heated or cooled air to escape to the outdoors. Even when a fireplace damper is new, however, it is rarely tightly sealed. Dampers are made with steel or cast-iron, and the metal-to-metal seal typically does a poor job of preventing air from passing through. If there is no chimney cap or if moisture in some other way makes its way into your chimney, the dampers can become rusted or corroded, which makes them even less effective at creating a seal.

A Damper Test

As a potentially cost-saving measure, it’s a good idea to do a simple test in order to determine how much air may be lost up your chimney. Carefully light a match or hold up burning incense next to the damper opening. Then blow out the match or incense and watch to see where the smoke trail goes. If the smoke goes up your chimney, then you will have significant amount of heat loss through your chimney. Another indication of a problem is if the trail of smoke blows into the room, because it is a sign that drafts are coming into your home from the chimney.

Another damper test is to put a dollar bill between the damper plate and the damper as you close it. Next, tug on the dollar bill. If it slides out easily, you have a leaky damper. Do the test all the way across the damper, since it may be leaky in one spot but not another.

Solution: Install a Top-Mounting Damper

Top Sealing Chimney DamperTo seal off your chimney effectively, install a top-mounting damper. These appliances have special seals which prevent air leakage. In fact, these dampers do such a good job, they have been described as revolutionary products. They prevent the loss of heated or air-conditioned air from your home and they also prevent outdoor temperatures from invading your home through the chimney. During the life of a top-mounting damper, the cost is paid for many times over.

It is simple to open and close a top-mounting damper from your fireplace. A stainless steel cable runs down the length of the flue and through a bracket, which is attached in the fireplace. Simply pull down on the cable handle, put it in the open position, and release it to open the top damper. Closing it also requires pulling down on the handle and securing it in the desired position.

For help repairing a damaged damper or to get a top-sealing damper, contact our chimney professionals today.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Nayaug Chimney Services LLC
Kreiger Lane GlastonburyCT06033 USA 
 • 860-659-0937

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How Chimney Dampers Can Save You Money

Wood Burning Fireplace

Homeowners with an open burning fireplace should always use the chimney damper to ensure heat is not escaping up the chimney when the fireplace is not in use.

Many homeowners who have and enjoy a beautiful fireplace during these arctic winters actually lose money every year on energy costs because of their chimney damper. In fact, experts say that 8% of the heating costs for the average home can be accounted for as heat lost through the chimney. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Your chimney damper should, of course, be closed when the fireplace is not in use. When the damper is open, it is about the same as opening a window and allowing your heated or cooled air to escape to the outdoors. Even when a fireplace damper is new, however, it is rarely tightly sealed. Dampers are made with steel or cast-iron, and the metal-to-metal seal typically does a poor job of preventing air from passing through. If there is no chimney cap or if moisture in some other way makes its way into your chimney, the dampers can become rusted or corroded, which makes them even less effective at creating a seal.

A Damper Test

As a potentially cost-saving measure, it’s a good idea to do a simple test in order to determine how much air may be lost up your chimney. Carefully light a match or hold up burning incense next to the damper opening. Then blow out the match or incense and watch to see where the smoke trail goes. If the smoke goes up your chimney, then you will have significant amount of heat loss through your chimney. Another indication of a problem is if the trail of smoke blows into the room, because it is a sign that drafts are coming into your home from the chimney.

Another damper test is to put a dollar bill between the damper plate and the damper as you close it. Next, tug on the dollar bill. If it slides out easily, you have a leaky damper. Do the test all the way across the damper, since it may be leaky in one spot but not another.

Solution: Install a Top-Mounting Damper

Top Sealing Chimney DamperTo seal off your chimney effectively, install a top-mounting damper. These appliances have special seals which prevent air leakage. In fact, these dampers do such a good job, they have been described as revolutionary products. They prevent the loss of heated or air-conditioned air from your home and they also prevent outdoor temperatures from invading your home through the chimney. During the life of a top-mounting damper, the cost is paid for many times over.

It is simple to open and close a top-mounting damper from your fireplace. A stainless steel cable runs down the length of the flue and through a bracket, which is attached in the fireplace. Simply pull down on the cable handle, put it in the open position, and release it to open the top damper. Closing it also requires pulling down on the handle and securing it in the desired position.

For help repairing a damaged damper or to get a top-sealing damper, contact our chimney professionals today.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

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