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Chimney dampers have been around nearly as long as chimneys...strangely enough, most
Americans, while not usually known for their commitment to energy efficiency, wouldn't dream of leaving
their chimney open to the elements all year round. In the U.K. however we have historically been oblivious
to the unnecessary loss of heat through open flues, accepting over the top fuel bills and draughty houses as
inevitable.....and until now there's been nowhere to go for a solution in the U.K.
There are three possible places in the flue system to install a damper, and there are pro's and con's for each;
in most cases the design of your fireplace/flue system will determine the most practical solution.
Chimneytop Dampers My Stackstopper and
Potstopper dampers fit inside your chimney pot, or the top
of an unlined masonary stack and are controlled from the
hearth via a stainless steel cable. They keep birds and
weather out, as well as keeping heat in, and are easily fitted
provided you can safely access the top of the chimney to
measure up and fit.
My Chimney Limpet (patent applied for) can be
inserted into the first ceramic liner or the base of an
unlined brick flue. It won't help so much with the birds
and weather ..but if you can see and reach your first liner,
installaton is easy, requires no working at heights or
specialist tools, and you have the benefit of failsafe
mechanical operation as opposed to "remote control" via a
cable.
Fireplace Dampers Are fitted in the gather
between the lintel and the base of the chimney. Although
initially they may seem a simple solution, you have to be
very careful designing them so they can open freely
without fouling the walls of the gather. Fitting them is
dirty, difficult work, and unless a good birdguard (not just
a piece of mesh!!) is fitted at the top of the stack, debris
can collect on top of them to be dumped on the hearth
when you open it.
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