Chimney Brush

Those owners of a masonry chimney will have a fireplace damper, which is geared toward shutting the airway between the fireplace and the rest of the chimney while the fireplace isn’t in use.  The absence of such a device can easily lead the air in your warm home up the chimney and on its way out.  No one wants a cold home, so it’s important that owners take full advantage of the benefits that a fireplace damper offers.

Unfortunately, many dampers experience issues, as they age and fall apart when they’re not handled right.  Small cracks or gaps between the damper and the airway can easily make it possible for heat to escape, causing undue discomfort, not to mention the likelihood of a much higher heating bill as a result.

Since fireplace dampers are generally made of metal, which thereby ensures that any passageways are completely shut, they’ll generally work.  On the other hand, any metal that’s exposed to as much heat as one directly above a fireplace will be prone to changes in shape as the heat warps the metal itself.  Extreme cold can do the same, as can rain and other precipitation that finds its way into the chimney.  It’s therefore really important that you routinely inspect your fireplace damper.

If your fireplace is a newer unit, there’s a good chance that your damper is in pretty good shape.  Some of the newer fireplace dampers on the market are built with more intelligence, and therefore require much less maintenance and replacement.  If you use your fireplace frequently and have an older damper, you may want to consider the possibility of buying a new fireplace damper.  Sometimes the cost of replacement is less than the cost of repair, not to mention the time you’ll save over the years.

As hard to grasp as it may seem, animals can often find their way down a chimney.  The last thing you want is some kind of rodent making its way into your home through the fireplace.  Whether it’s a bird, bat, squirrel, raccoon, or some other creature, there have been many documented cases of this, and the consequences of this are obvious.

The best course of action to prevent this from happening is to make sure that your chimney cap has a screen, as this will make it impossible for them to travel down the flue.  However, keeping your fireplace damper sealed shut, will at the very least keep any such animals stuck inside the chimney, in which case you’ll most likely hear them before you have to see them.  From there, any chimney professional will have no problem handling the situation for you.

The last tip is for your safety, and it’s probably something you’re already aware of.  New fireplace owners might find it useful though.  When you light a fire, make sure that you open your fireplace damper all the way.  Leaving it partially closed won’t in fact make the room warmer, and will often lead to smoke finding its way into your house.

There are many fireplace dampers for sale online if you’re looking to replace your current one.  If you need your existing one prepared, you’ll want to get in touch with someone local to handle the job.