The Anatomy of Your Average Chimney
Your chimney is an important part of your home. It is a structure that has a purpose and serves a specific function, but do you really understand how it works? Most people think that you just toss wood on the fire and gather around on a cold day. While this is certainly true, your chimney is working overtime to process the smoke as the fire is burning down below. In addition to providing heat, fireplaces offer a great deal of aesthetic appeal. In order to keep your fireplace and chimney in good working order, it is important to understand its anatomy.
Anatomy Of Your Chimney
Before we talk about your chimney, it is a good idea to identify which fireplace you have installed in your home. There are factory fireplaces and masonry fireplaces. Masonry fireplaces are crafted out of brick and mortar while factory fireplaces are made from a metal firebox attached to a pre-built chimney. Depending on the model there may be additional features, but for now, we are going to stick to standard models.
Chase Top
While this may look like the cap, but is not, it is actually the part that encompasses and covers the top of the chimney. This part of the chimney is tasked with draining water and condensation away from the top so that it doesn’t pool.
Damper
This is the part that connects the chimney with the fireplace. They are in the top part of the firebox and will close when there is no smoke to vent to the outside. You can activate it with a pulley or lever, and keeping them closed correctly will prevent energy loss.
Chimney Cap
This is most often found in prefabricated chimneys. This attachment sits at the top of the opening of the flue. It helps to keep the rest of the chimney safe from water damage. It will stop rain and other moisture from settling into the cracks and it will also keep nosey critters from climbing down the chimney. In mason work, this is referred to as the chimney crown.
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