Protective Components of Your Chimney

What are the primary protective components of your chimney? Are they universal to all chimney styles? Can your chimney function without one or two of them? Today, we’re going to answer all of these questions starting with your chimney flue.

What is a chimney flue?

Many of us, when we hear the word flue, associate it with a seasonal sickness. Funny enough, the analogy between the flu and a chimney flue isn’t too dissimilar. Ultimately, we pass around sickness when we exhale air.

Likewise, a chimney flue is how the firebox “exhales” its air — in this case, smoke. A chimney flue is nothing more than a vertical passage from the fireplace to the outside. It’s how the fireplace breathes if you want to think of it that way. If not for your flue, smoke from your fireplace would back up into the house.

Most modern chimney flues have a liner, typically consisting of a thin sheet of metal that protects the inside of your bricks and mortar. Flues can also have a layer of debris build-up called creosote, which is why it’s necessary to call a Chimney Solutions technician for an annual inspection and cleaning before you use your fireplace for the first time each season. So, yes, all chimneys have a flue. And no, your fireplace cannot function without a working flue.

What is a chimney damper?

A chimney damper is how you control the airflow in and out of the flue. Your damper allows you to keep cold air out when your fireplace is not operational and for smoke to escape when you’re burning. All chimney systems should have a damper, and while you could technically get by with a broken one (as long as it’s permanently open), we wouldn’t recommend it. The risk that the damper could close without your knowledge is too great, and if you started a fire with it in the closed position, smoke wouldn’t be able to escape.

What is a chimney crown?

A chimney crown is a protective slab over your chimney’s opening. It protects the entire system from premature weathering. Crowns are usually made up of mortar, concrete, or even metal, though we don’t recommend bricks and mortar as they can deteriorate over time. Do all chimneys have a crown? They should. Can the system work without one? No. The crown is your first line of defense against the elements, and a broken or missing crown will eventually lead to bigger and costlier repairs.

What is a chimney cap?

Lastly, your chimney has a cap. Just as a baseball cap protects your head from the sun, a chimney cap protects your chimney from debris, moisture (including the inside of your home with rain and snow), and animals. Birds and other critters like to build nests inside of your chimney during the winter months. Your cap is a necessary part of keeping stuff out of your chimney. Not all chimneys have a cap, unfortunately, but they are critically important to keep yours operational.

We’ll fix the protective components of your chimney!

The technicians here at Chimney Solutions Indiana are the experts in chimney maintenance. We’ll work with you on everything from annual sweeps and inspections to repair. Call us at 317-757-6979 or contact us online here.