Chimney cap question

[Susan]

I have received conflicting advice regarding chimney caps. I thought installing a lock-top type chimney cap with a built-in damper could help me save some money on heating. My chimney sweep, however, advised me the existing damper was working well and a sealing chimney cap would cause a condensation at the top of the chimney when the hot air hit the cap, leading to water damage within the chimney. He also said the loss of heat through the chimney was negligible with a good fitting damper and what little air did get out was good for air circulation within the house. In other words, a chimney cap that stopped the rain was all I needed (the draw is fine).

Anyone care to weigh in on this one?

Thanks in advance

D. Charles

[John Galbreath Jr.]

I would assume your chimney sweep is NOT certified. That is bad information. Check him out on this industry site:

The top sealing type damper has been tested to show it will save $100 per year in utility bills over a throat damper that only seals about 90%. Look here also:

Here is a link to my commercial web site on this style damper:

[John Galbreath Jr.]

Top sealing dampers should only be used on open front fireplaces. Sounds like you may have a gasket problem on the Lopi. Here is the manufacturer information:

Lopi Travis Industries, Inc.

10850 117th Place Northeast Kirkland, WA 98033 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website:

['nuther Bob]

John: I have great respect for your comments and suggestions in this group, but is this really "industry accepted" ? It looks like someone put together a clever business plan to develop certification for an industry that had none. Is this certification NFPA approved, or just NFPA "based" ?

I have no doubt that this design saves a tremendous amount of energy compared to a standard damper. I have great difficulty with arbitrary statements like "save $100 per year".

Bob

[Amos]

As opposed to noone here having great respect for your comments and suggestions in this group..

honesty is the best policy boob.. get a life. elsewhere. you have none here.

[John Galbreath]

The CSIA is the only Certification for chimney sweeps. I don't know if it is NFPA approved. Below is an exerpt from their press room. This link better esplains the Lyemance damper, I got it off their web site. They use a $200 figure.

Chimney Sweeping Industry Boasts New National Training School

Chimney Safety Institute of America Opens Doors to CSIA Technology Center

PLAINFIELD, Ind. (January 3, 2002) - The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) today announced the opening of the CSIA Technology Center, a 10,000 square foot educational and technological training facility for chimney sweeps. The million-dollar facility was built with funds raised within the chimney sweeping community.

"This is the first facility of its kind in North America," said Mark McSweeney, executive director of the CSIA. "The CSIA now has a new state-of-the-art school to educate, train and certify chimney sweeps."

The CSIA Technology Center was founded to ensure that all chimney professionals are able to receive expert training in the practice of sweeping. The educational direction of the CSIA Technology Center combines the traditional art of chimney sweeping with current technological advances in the home heating market.

Since 1983, the CSIA has certified more than 5,000 chimney sweeps through both regional seminars and the annual National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) Convention. Today more than 1,400 CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps® are registered throughout the country. These sweeps have reached the professional pinnacle in training and education in the sweeping industry.

In addition to offering sweeping courses, the CSIA Technology Center's course schedule for 2002 includes classes on the relationship between home heating, venting and indoor air quality as well as dryer vent technician training and certification.

"Airtight homes, complex home construction, more efficient hearth products and furnaces, as well as a greater number of home heating fuel choices, have created a technologically challenging work environment for chimney sweeps," added McSweeney. "Now more than ever before, sweeps need a strong educational and technological background to ensure their customers safety."

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends that all chimneys and vents, including dryer vents, are inspected on an annual basis and cleaned as necessary by a certified technician - whether a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® or a Certified Dryer Exhaust Duct Technician".

For more information about the Chimney Safety Institute of America, the CSIA Technology Center, or to locate a certified chimney sweep or certified dryer vent technician, go to

or call 1-800-536-0118. The CSIA Technology Center is located at 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, Indiana

46168.

About The Chimney Safety Institute of America

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) is a non-profit educational organization that offers the only nationally recognized certification program for chimney sweeps in the United States. CSIA is committed to educating chimney sweeps, fire prevention specialists, the insurance industry, and the public on the prevention, maintenance, and correction of chimney and venting system hazards.

About the CSIA Technology Center

The CSIA Technology Center is the premier educational and technological training facility in the chimney and venting industry. The CSIA Technology Center was founded to ensure that all chimney and venting professionals receive expert training and to foster professional development. The educational direction of the CSIA Technology Center combines the traditional art of chimney sweeping with current technological advances in the home heating market.

Media please contact: Melissa Heeke, Communications Director

1-317-837-5362 [e-mail]

Homeowners please contact:

1-800-536-0118 [e-mail] website at csia.org

As to the $100 savings per year.