Many people have fireplaces, but not everyone has a chimney damper. Even those who do have dampers might not be aware of the purpose and benefits of having one. A damper serves two main functions and is fitted inside or at the top of your chimney. If you don’t already have one, there are several reasons that you may want to consider getting one.
One benefit of using a damper is that it keeps heat from escaping. Although a fireplace is beautiful with a fire burning and the sound of crackling wood can be very relaxing, you also want the heat to remain inside the home, not waft outside to warm the great outdoors. By partially closing the damper, the heat circulates lower, thus staying in your home for warmth that cannot be matched by gas or electric heating systems. As an added bonus, it also helps you save a lot of money on your heating bills.
Another benefit of chimney dampers comes into play when starting a fire in your fireplace. A fire needs oxygen to breathe and ignite. By opening the damper, it gets this air so it can start strong. By leaving it open at the start of your fire, it will build bigger so that when you close the damper more, it will stay blazing for a longer time. Although it’s important to always keep an eye on a burning fire, this will help reduce the number of times you have to actually tend it.
Among the types of dampers available are throat-mount (made of cast iron) and top mount. They can be found in fireplace stores or built to the exact specifications of your fireplace. If you have a larger flue or one with an odd shape, you will have to get one made to ensure proper fit. There are also damper/cap combinations available.You can find them in home improvement stores, specialty fireplace stores, and from online retailers and they are generally not very expensive.
If you are unsure about whether or not you need a damper or how to use one, please contact a professional for expert advice as it relates to your particular chimney. Different fireplaces have different needs. The benefits of using a chimney damper are important to your home, your heating bill, and the environment. So, start your fire, adjust your chimney damper, and enjoy the wonderful heat of your fireplace.
Take an old method book on pedaling and look at the pedal symbols at the bottom of each measure. Study the patterns of when the pedal is held down and when the pedal is lifted. Check out the chord changes in the progression. If played correctly, your music will not sound like one long blur!
Having an understanding of the piano pedal mechanism helps too. If you look inside an acoustic piano you will notice that dampers rest on the strings. Whenever a key is pressed while holding down the damper pedals the dampers are lifted from the strings allowing the strings to freely vibrate. This produces the harp-like sounds or sustaining of sounds. It is not to be used to produce an increase in volume as most people believe, but is to sustain the sound being produced until the pedal is released.
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