Lock Top Damper

Back in the old days no one ever heard of a damper for their fireplaces. If you are lucky enough to have an older home that does not have a damper, it might be a good idea to have one installed or do it yourself. Basically a damper is used to seal the fireplace flue so the heat loss is minimal. The damper has a spring loaded lid that will default to the open position. More often than not, the damper is attached to a stainless steel cable that with a hook or bracket can be closed or opened with a little push of the hook.

As well as keeping out the critters of the wild such as birds and squirrels a fire damper can reduce heating bills up to one hundred dollars a month, just by keeping in the heat in the home. They also will block out the rain, wind and snow. The damper is located usually at the throat of the chimney, just above the firebox.

A lock top damper has rubber gasket seals; it reminds you of a screen door for your fireplace. These will keep the heat in and the cold out, just as it should be. This type of damper mounts on top of your chimney, on the outside. And it operates on the inside, and does seal quite tightly, thus avoiding loss of heat and drafts.  This lock top damper is great because it also will prevent the cool air from your air conditioner from escaping.

A cable drops down from your fireplace flue and will be attached to a handle that is placed where it is easy to reach. And a tock top damper is placed on top of the roof and is made of cast aluminum and stainless steel construction. They have a life time warranty which is nice. You can only buy a lock top damper from a fireplace store and a professional that might be selling them. Professionals will stake their reputation on what they sell and they all seem to agree that a top lock damper is the way to go.

A lock top damper should be installed by a professional, as they have the tools and know how to install them properly. When the lock top damper is closed, it will lay flat on top of the fireplace. It actually locks shut so nothing can get in inside your fireplace flue. When closed it also reduces many noises from the outside.

Your fireplace will improve its job when a lock top damper is installed. Many will complain about a smoky smell inside their homes. This is caused by the smoke from the chimney and the outside air. With a top lock damper this will be eliminated. It does not allow the outside air to come in and mix with the smoke.

A good lock top damper can run you about fifty to seventy five dollars, depending on the size. If you are going to install this yourself, there are kits that have everything you need to do the job.