We Carry Energy Top Dampers & Clean Out Doors

The chimney is as long-lasting as your house itself, which is why you may have a historical home with old parts and components. Over the years, advancements in chimney science and technology have resulted in new products that bring up the efficiency of your old chimney. At Hudson Chimney we revitalize old chimneys and improve efficiency and function by installing energy top dampers and clean-out doors

Energy Top Dampers

Named for their energy saving capabilities, the energy top damper is also called the top mount damper. It is a damper that is installed on the top of the chimney instead of the traditional metal dampers which are installed in the throat of the chimney. Many homeowners like to replace a throat damper with the new energy top dampers in order to start reaping benefits right away. 

Airtight seal – The energy top damper is equipped with an airtight seal that prevents air, moisture, and animals or insects from entering. 

Chimney cap – Energy top dampers double as a chimney cap, keeping animals, water, and wind out even when it’s open. 

Ease of use – With a handle that reaches to the hearth, it’s easy to engage and disengage the damper from indoors. 

Durable – Made of stainless steel and aluminum, the energy top damper doesn’t rust or corrode. It is long-lasting and unaffected by soot and creosote which may cake the interior of the flue. 

Pre-set – The damper remains open by default for maximum safety and always opens to the perfect pre-set height. 

Once your energy top damper is installed, you will start reaping the benefits right away. The new damper will save you money year-round, preventing heated air loss through winter, and conditioned air loss throughout the off-season. With this new addition, you can save up to 75 percent on heating and cooling costs. 

Chimney Clean-Out Doors

The clean-out doors are the “back door” to the chimney which allows for easier access to the flue and chimney for cleaning. Not only does a new clean-out door make your chimney more accessible, but will also help you notice and diagnose chimney problems. You may not see evidence of chimney damage in your stove or fireplace, but when you find fragments of clay tiles or mortar in your clean-out door, you know there is a problem. Your clean-out door makes the flue more accessible to you, the homeowner, but also offers another route to the chimney professional who may come and clean or repair your chimney system. 

Whether you’re replacing a damaged damper or looking to improve efficiency or value, we have what you’re looking for. At Hudson Chimney we use our experience and expertise to bring safety and efficiency to our customers’ homes and lives. 

Call and speak with a chimney expert at 904-282-4159.

Time for a New Damper?

One of the most important components of a chimney, the damper lets the byproducts of combustion escape from the fireplace into the chimney and seals out the outside air when the fireplace is not in use. Unfortunately, the traditional throat dampers found in most masonry chimneys are not very efficient as they do not form a complete seal when closed. An old damper can cost you a lot of money on both heating and cooling bills because the air from inside your home can leak through to the chimney. If your damper is old, you may want to replace it with a new top-sealing damper. At Hudson Chimney, we are proud to sell two of the most popular top-sealing dampers, the Energy Top and the Energy Top Plus from U.S. Fireplace Products. We would like to tell you a bit about these top-sealing dampers.

Top sealing Damper - Jacksonville FL - Hudson Chimney Inc

Courtesy of Jerry Isenhour

Top-sealing dampers serve more than one purpose.

One of Hudson Chimney’s favorite benefits of this type of damper is that it can also be a chimney cap. When the Energy Top damper is closed, it does the same job of a chimney cap. For even better protection, the Energy Top Plus damper is equipped with a stainless steel chimney cap that allows it to serve as a cap even when the damper is open. The cap has wire mesh sides that will keep out birds and animals out of your chimney at all times. This is important because this kind of damper stays open when in the default mode for maximum safety. If the damper were closed when you lit a fire, your home would be filled with smoke and carbon monoxide.

Top-sealing dampers are easy to use and economical.

Both the Energy Top and the Energy Top Plus dampers have an easily accessible handle that makes it simple to open and close the damper. This handle is mounted inside the fireplace. We also like that the price for these dampers is very economical can can fit just about any budget

Top-sealing dampers provide a better seal.

These dampers use a silicone rubber gasket that tightly seals off your fireplace from the chimney opening. Studies have found that heat loss from the chimney is responsible for eight percent of your heating costs. With an Energy Top or an Energy Top Plus damper, you will see at least an eight percent savings in your heating costs. You will also save when you are cooling your home as these dampers will prevent cooled air from escaping from the chimney.

If you have a traditional throat damper that has been used for years, it is time for a new damper. Contact us at Hudson Chimney to learn more about our amazing top-sealing dampers sales and installation services.

The Advantages of a Top-Sealing Damper

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a damper is an important component of every chimney. Essential for an energy-efficient home, the damper keeps the heat in and the cold air out of your house, which saves you money on heating bills. Your damper is also used to control the flow of smoke, gases, and the other byproducts of combustion up the chimney to exit your home. Available in two different types, you can choose between the throat damper and the top-sealing damper. Also known as the traditional fireplace damper, a throat damper is installed right above the firebox and is found in many old masonry chimneys. However, this type of damper has many flaws and issues. At Hudson Chimney, we strongly recommend the top-sealing damper over the throat damper. We would like to tell you more about the benefits of these dampers.

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This clip is courtesy of Richie Baxley at Environmental Chimney Service in Asheville NC.

A top-sealing damper serves two functions, allowing you to “kill two birds with one stone.”

One of the main benefits of a top-sealing damper is that it also serves as a chimney cap when the damper is closed, and, to be honest, this type of damper actually gives you better protection than an ordinary chimney cap. Equipped with a silicone rubber gasket that seals in heat and air conditioning as a damper, a top-sealing damper also gives you an air-tight seal to keep out water, debris, birds, squirrels, and raccoons — just as a chimney cap would. When our customers need a new chimney cap, Hudson Chimney will recommend that they install a top-sealing damper instead of a chimney cap. Some models of top-sealing dampers come with caps, so even when the damper is open, your chimney is still protected from debris and animals.

A top-sealing damper will save you both energy and money.

Throat dampers just do not completely seal as well as top-sealing dampers. You will not have to worry about cold air, ice, and snow entering your flue to create a cold core in your chimney. A cold core tries to cool your home at the same time that your heating system is trying to warm it up, which wastes both fuel and money. As a top-sealing damper sits atop your chimney, cold air never even has a chance to get anywhere inside because your entire flue is sealed air-tight with the silicone rubber gasket. Believe us when we say you will save money on both cooling and heating bills when you install a top-sealing damper.

A top-sealing damper is easy to operate.

With some throat dampers, you must practically stick your head up the fireplace to open and close them. When you have a top-sealing damper, opening and closing the damper is simple. A stainless steel cable from the damper drops down the chimney and connects to an easily-accessible handle which is mounted inside the firebox. Different models will have different opening and closing methods, but Hudson Chimney guarantees you will find all easy to use.

Want to know more about the benefits of top-sealing dampers? Contact Hudson Chimney to find out even more advantages to this type of damper.

Scheduling your Chimney Services before the Busy Season

Chimney service companies tend to get busy as the fall and winter approach. If you live in the Middleburg, Florida area you may think that booking an appointment to have your chimney swept and inspected is something that can wait. After all, you live in the sunshine state, right? But you would be wrong. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that chimneys be swept by a professional on an annual basis. No matter where you live, the fall and winter are when chimney service companies get booked up. If you want to use your chimney safely and efficiently this winter, you will want to have the professionals at Hudson Chimney clean and inspect it.

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Having your chimney cleaned and inspected can help it to run more efficiently, save you money, and keep your home warmer. Most importantly, however, having your chimney cleaned is important to keeping your home safe from house and chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other hazards presented by owning a chimney.

The professionals at Hudson Chimney will work to remove creosote from your chimney. Creosote is an extremely flammable substance that forms when hot gasses and smoke cool in your chimney. Not only can creosote cause fires, but it blocks toxic gasses and smoke from leaving your chimney. When creosote is allowed to accumulate, not only does your risk of fire and dangerous fumes increase, but creosote will build into a caked on substance called glazed creosote, which can only be removed by a professional with strong chemicals. Having your chimney cleaned and inspected annually can help prevent glazed creosote from forming.

The experts at Hudson Chimney will also inspect your chimney for water damage which can cost you a lot of money (and even destroy your chimney) if not properly attended to. They will inspect your chimney for the various causes of water leaks and recommend any repairs that need to be made. You can then set up an appointment with Hudson Chimney to install a chimney cover, have a water repellent applied, or anything else that needs to be done to provide you with a leak-free chimney!

Your chimney will also be inspected to make sure that the appliance was properly installed and that your chimney and appliance are compatible. A flue that is too small for the appliance will not allow for proper ventilation, causing hazardous fumes to enter your home. A flue that is too big for the appliance will accumulate creosote quickly. The technicians at Hudson Chimney will also check to make sure that there are no blockages in your chimney that could cause improper ventilation. Having a chimney cap or damper installed will help to prevent animals and debris from entering the chimney.

So if you have not scheduled your chimney service appointment for this year, call Hudson Chimney as soon as possible to book your appointment before the busy season starts!