Expert Masonry, Concrete, Brick & Stone Services in Albany, NY

If you notice cold air coming from your chimney when it is not in use, there is a good chance that your damper is opened. Although throat dampers have served us well in the past, they do not provide an air-tight seal and often rust into place. You may want to consider having a top-sealing damper installed, which can reduce utility bills, keeping conditioned air in and cold air out. For more information on dampers, please click here.

If you notice smoke coming in through your downstairs fireplace when your upstairs fireplace is in use, you most likely have a pressure problem that is causing your unused fireplace flue to bring replacement air into the home. As air is pulled into the unused flue, smoke is pulled in with it (smoke exiting the flue that is in use). To prevent this from happening, you will need to eliminate the pressure problems, or install a top-sealing damper on the less-frequently-used flue.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a non-profit organization that is designed to be a resource for homeowners and chimney professionals across the nation. The organization is run by industry experts, with a mission to educate and maintain high levels of professionalism and ethical practices within the chimney industry. Known for setting the industry standard, the CSIA provides the latest in safety and techniques and offers a nationally-recognized certification program.