What is a damper? Do I need one?

There are two types of dampers. One is located in the firebox, the most common is called a bottom blade damper. The second one is called a top damper that goes at the top of the chimney by the cap. The type of damper your chimney needs depends on what kind of unit you have, but yes, you need a damper.

The purpose of a damper is to seal the flue when the chimney is not in use. Dampers save energy in your home by blocking the flue when the chimney is not in use so the heat or air conditioning cannot escape through the flue. When the damper is open while there is no fire going, air can be pulled into the house, which causes the air conditioning or heating to work harder to maintain the temperature of your home.