A rooftop model keeps rain outside and conditioned air inside
Fireplace flue dampers don’t necessarily last forever. Rhode Island builder and Fine Homebuilding contributing editor, Mike Guertin, recommends replacing a damaged throat damper with a flue-top model. A damper atop the chimney helps to keep conditioned air inside a house, and it prevents animals from taking up residence in the chimney. A cable that runs from the damper to the fireplace opening allows the spring-loaded damper to be opened and closed easily. Guertin describes the two styles of flue-top damper (pop-up and spring-loaded) and offers installation advice.
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One Comment
As of April 2023, all the websites mentioned as sources were still active. It looks like the products don’t incorporate any spark controls. Wind driven fires in a drought weren’t a problem 15 years ago.
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