July 2016 - Atlas Chimney

How a Rusty Damper Can Affect Your Electric Bill

If you want your chimney and fireplace season to work as well as possible, you need to be sure that each and every component is in good working condition. When you have problems with certain parts, such as the liner or damper, your chimney could possibly even be unsafe. Also, the efficiency issues caused by damaged chimney components can be quite costly. Atlas Chimney would like to talk to you more about dampers and how a rusty damper can affect your electric bill.

How A Rusty Damper Can Affect Your Electric Bill Image - Austin TX - Atlas Chimney

What exactly is a damper?

Situated directly above the firebox, a traditional throat damper is constructed from metal, ceramic, or other material that can tolerate the exposure to direct heat. Similar to a flap or door, a throat damper can be opened or closed. Another type of damper is the top-mounted damper, which is located at the very top of the chimney and can also serve as a chimney cap.

What does a damper do?

Even when your fireplace is not being used, your damper has a very important function, which is why you need to be sure it is in good working condition. When you are burning a fire in your fireplace, the damper should always be open to allow smoke, gases, and the other byproducts of combustion to escape out of the chimney. If the damper is closed, smoke and toxic gases will get forced back into your home through the fireplace. If there is no fire burning, your damper should always be closed to create energy efficiency by keeping warm air inside your home during the winter and cooled air inside during the summer. According to Do It Yourself, you can control the intensity of your fire by partially opening the damper to limit the amount of oxygen exposure to the fire.

What is the most common problem with throat dampers, and how does this issue affect my electric bill?

Although your damper may be constructed with a good quality metal, it can still suffer from corrosion over the years. Rust is the most common problem with throat dampers because it can cause issues opening and closing the damper. You can have difficulties adjusting and even moving a damper that has been corroded by rust. When your damper is stuck in the open position, it can cause your electric bill to be more expensive than usual. It can be challenging to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer when the damper cannot close correctly. To be sure your home is as energy efficient as possible, you should have your rusted damper repaired or replaced.

Atlas Chimney can help you with taking care of your rusty damper. Contact us to find out how we can reduce your electric bill by repairing or replacing a damaged throat damper.

Common Chimney Draft Issues

Draft plays an important role in the operation of your fireplace and chimney system, and different factors can cause chimney draft issues. If your house smells smoky or if you have trouble with starting a fire, you are experiencing chimney draft problems. Since several things can cause these issues, it can be challenging to diagnose exactly what is wrong. Atlas Chimney is here to help solve your chimney draft issues. For over 25 years, we have been working on the chimneys of the residents of Central Texas, and we know how to diagnose and fix problems with drafts in chimneys. We would like to tell you a bit more about the symptoms of these issues, what causes them, and how we can correct the problems.

Common Chimney Draft Issues Image- Austin TX - Atlas Chimney

Difficulty Starting a Fire

If it takes you 30 minutes to an hour to get a good fire going in your fireplace, your flue could be too large for your heating appliance. You could also have leaks in the lower half of your chimney. According to Mother Earth News, the best solution for both of these problems is to reline the chimney. Atlas Chimney can install a new stainless steel liner that will provide a correctly-sized flue for your heating appliance. This will also help to seal off any leaks.

Smoke Fills the Room on Windy Days

In the best case scenario, wind helps the draft in your chimney to pull out exhaust gases from your home. However, the wind could be directed downward towards your chimney by part of your roof, another building, or a tree. Atlas Chimney can help with this issue by installing a chimney cap that has vents on its sides. These vents will direct the wind to improve your chimney draft and pull out the smoke and gases from combustion,

Unpleasant Odors in the Summer

The heat and humidity of the summer can worsen the odor of creosote, so if you have not had your chimney professionally swept since you last used your fireplace, you could have stinky creosote deposits inside your chimney. Chimney draft problems can force these odors back into your home. The most common reason for this smelly issue is that your house is preventing adequate airflow up the chimney because it is sealed too tightly for weatherization purposes. This problem can be solved by two simple solutions. You can crack open the window closest to your fireplace to give the chimney enough air to draft properly. You can also schedule your annual professional chimney sweeping in the spring or summer with Atlas Chimney, so our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps can remove all of the creosote from your chimney before it starts smelling so strongly.

Have you noticed any of these symptoms with your fireplace? Contact us at Atlas Chimney so our certified sweeps can diagnose and solve your chimney draft problems.

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