What Type of Damper is Best? Pros and Cons of Each Type

Igniting a fireplace with a closed damper is as dangerous as starting a car in a sealed garage. Doing so traps smoke and toxic carbon monoxide in your home—posing serious, even lethal, risks. 

Originally invented in the 1920s as a means for controlling combustion to improve safety and efficiency, the metal or cast-iron damper is a standard component of masonry fireplaces. However, it is not the only type. What type of damper is best for your fireplace in New Jersey? In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each. 

What Is the Purpose of a Fireplace Damper?

A damper is your fireplace’s door to the outside world. When the fireplace is in use, opening the damper allows smoke and combustion gases to rise efficiently through the flue and exit the house at the top of the stack. When the fire burns out, closing the damper prevents the colder outside air from mixing with the warmer indoor air, keeping your living space more comfortable.

Types of Dampers

There are two categories of dampers: throat and top-mount, each with its own set of pros and cons.

Throat Damper

This is the traditional damper found in masonry chimneys. It is installed in the chimney’s throat, just above the firebox. 

Pros:

• Durability: Made of heavy-duty cast iron, they can last for decades with proper maintenance and regular cleaning.
• Accessibility: Throat damper controls are simple to operate using a handle, lever, or rotary knob.

Cons:

• Gasket Failures: The rubber gasket that forms an airtight seal when the damper is shut is prone to warping due to moisture and its proximity to the intense heat of the burning logs and the acidic combustion gases. Damper gasket failure is a common cause of air leaks that lead to a drafty fireplace, reducing energy efficiency.
• Rusts: Water leaks, condensation, and the acidic combustion gases can cause the iron or metal damper to rust, making it difficult to operate. 
• Warping: High heat can cause the metal to warp, creating gaps that allow drafts even when the damper is shut.

Top Mount Damper

Also known as a “top-sealing” damper, this model is installed at the very top of the chimney flue and operated by a cable or pull chain mounted to a bracket inside the fireplace.

Pros: 

• Superior Energy-Efficiency: Most use a rubber gasket that seals like a Tupperware lid, drastically reducing energy bills.
• Enhanced Flue Protection: Installed at the top of the stack, it seals the entire flue from moisture and animal intrusion, keeping the chimney cleaner and drier.
• Chimney Cap Included: It also includes a stainless-steel chimney cap, keeping precipitation, wind, and pests (like squirrels or birds) out of the flue while allowing smoke and fumes to vent.
• Longevity: Installed further away from the fire, a top-mount damper is less prone to rusting, resulting in a longer lifespan than a conventional throat damper.

Cons:

• Initial Cost: There is an upfront cost of the damper and installation.
• Maintenance: Servicing the damper requires access to the roof.

Why Top Mount Dampers Are Best for Fireplaces

For homeowners in Mercer County and surrounding areas, the Top-Mount Damper is the clear choice for both masonry and manufactured fireplaces with metal flues. Because New Jersey experiences extreme temperature swings, from humid, rainy summers to freezing, snowy winters, a throat damper is simply inefficient.

A top-mount damper seals out the humidity that causes “smelly chimney syndrome” in the summer and prevents the freezing drafts that make your living room chilly in January. It’s an investment that typically pays for itself in energy savings within a few seasons.

Regardless of whether your fireplace has a throat or top-mount damper, we strongly recommend installing a carbon monoxide (CO) detector on every floor in your home. Since gas fireplaces produce virtually no smoke, it is your only warning of a potentially lethal carbon monoxide leak. 

Chimney Damper Repair & Installation Near Me

Don’t let a faulty damper send your heating budget up the chimney. Call Mercer County Chimney Services today for expert chimney damper repairs and installations.

We install and maintain top-sealing dampers that eliminate drafts, improve energy efficiency, and protect your flue from moisture and animal intrusion. We proudly serve Mercer County and surrounding western New Jersey townships, including Trenton, Princeton, East Windsor, and Pennington.