Why You Should Close Your Chimney Damper in Summer

Do you know if your chimney damper is open or closed right now? If you don’t, go check it right away. Was it closed? Good. Or, was it open? If so, here are a few reasons why you should close your damper this summer.

You’re not trying to cool or heat the entire world

While right now everyone is focusing on keeping their homes cool, the time will eventually come later this year when they’ll turn the heat on. However, an important reason to close your damper this summer is to keep your cool air from escaping up your flue.

Likewise, this is true with heated air in the cooler months. Regardless of the season, closing your damper helps save energy costs. You’re not wasting money by letting your temperature-treated air leave your home and escape into the outside.

What’s that smell?

First, if you ever notice a smell coming from your fireplace, that means it’s time to call A-1 Chimney Specialist ASAP. Most likely, there is a moisture-related issue in your flue that needs to be fixed immediately. One of those can be creosote. When it mixes with water, it creates an incredibly unpleasant odor.

Another could be mold growing deep in your chimney. Again, this is a moisture problem and one that our team can fix for you easily.

Raindrops keep falling on my…firebox?

All things being equal, your chimney cap should work to keep rain and other forms of precipitation out of your firebox. However, if there is a problem with it (or it’s missing entirely) and your damper is open, you’re essentially letting the rain into your home. At least by closing the damper, you’ll be keeping the rainwater out of your living areas — though, again, you should schedule a maintenance call with our team ASAP.

Who let the birds in?

Have you ever heard animal noises in your flue? This may be a bird family that, again due to a missing cap, has built their spring nests within your chimney. Keeping your damper closed can keep them and their droppings out of your living area. And of course, we will fix this problem during our visit.

Other reasons why you should close your damper this summer

Finally, there are a few other reasons to close your damper this summer. Besides helping to save costs, it can keep other dirt and debris out of your fireplace. Those include both leaves and twigs, which can easily fall into your flue if your cap is missing. A closed damper will keep them from making their way fully into your home.

Contact us for your annual sweep and inspection

While closing your damper this summer is a great first step, the next one on your to-do list should be to call our team. Now is the best time to schedule your next fireplace sweep and inspection. This gets you ahead of the pack with scheduling while also allowing for plenty of time to fix any problems that may need to be addressed before the fall gets here.

Are you ready to get started? Then call the team at A-1 Chimney Specialist at 931-967-3595 (TN) or 256-285-4895 (AL); You can also send our team a message online to book your sweep and inspection.