Fireplace Dampers Aren't all Equal

Look inside your fireplace and you'll probably find a damper. In the open position it allows smoke and heat to flow up the chimney. Close it when the fireplace is not in use to prevent outside air from entering the house.

The damper is located at the throat of the fireplace where the firebox and flue meet. But as the homeowners in New York learned, there is a better alternative to the traditional damper.

A top-mounted damper is installed on top of a chimney and is operated by a long chain or cable so the damper can be opened and closed from the firebox. You can have one installed for a few hundred dollars. Advantages to a top-mounted damper include:

• It keeps rain and animals out of the chimney when it’s closed.
  
• Top-mounted dampers usually eliminate the need for a chimney cap.
  
• They're energy efficient and can save the average homeowners as much as $100 on annual heating bills.

Not to put a damper on things, but top mounted dampers aren’t for everyone. They can’t be used with gas fireplaces or wood stoves, those applications call for traditional dampers.