Your chimney is a lot more complex than just a chute going through your ceiling and out the roof. There are several parts that all need to be in working order. One of these is your chimney damper. If it's working the way it should be, it actually saves you money. This is something all homeowners like to hear!

What is a Chimney Damper?

Essentially, they let you control how much air is coming in and out. It's important for a few different reasons. Dampers are made to seal the chimney when fires aren't burning in your fireplace. You close the damper so that the cold air stays out and your home stays warm. Otherwise, your nice toasty air would be going out a big hole in your roof and all that frigid winter air would be coming in! Dampers also send smoke away. Before your fire gets going, be sure to open the damper, so that all of the smoke escapes through the chimney. Thirdly, chimney dampers help control the intensity of your fire.

Where Is the Chimney Damper?

Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it. The chimney damper is located in the flue. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed here to help control ventilation. 

How can it Save You Money?

Now that you understand a little more what the damper does, we can discuss how it saves you money. Just by looking at the definition you may have guessed. When the damper is open, it is similar to opening a window and allowing your heated air to escape to the outdoors. When your damper is closed, you're keeping all your warm air inside- right where you want it. This means savings in your monthly energy bills. The less air you waste, the less your bill will be. It really is as simple as that!

Is Your Seal Tight?

The key is not just to have a chimney damper, but for it to be as tightly shut as possible. You don't want any air escaping! There is a simple test you can do to determine how much air may be lost up your chimney. Light a match next to the damper opening. Next, blow out the match and watch to see where the smoke trail goes. If the smoke goes up your chimney, then you know that you have a significant amount of heat loss through your chimney and need a tighter seal.

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! Order a new chimney damper through Fireside Chimney Supplies and keep all your warm air inside where it belongs.