Chimney and fireplace repair help for homes in Princeton

Look up past the firebox and you should find a damper, a metal plate that closes the flue when the fireplace is cold. When it sticks, rusts through or no longer seals, you feel it as a draft. You may hear it rattle, or notice smoke when it will not open fully. Our team repairs and replaces dampers in Princeton.

We sweep, repair masonry and service gas and electric fireplaces as well, so the damper is judged as part of the whole fireplace. The chimney chapter of the building code expects a masonry fireplace to have a working damper. A factory-built fireplace uses the damper its manufacturer specifies. A masonry flue offers two broad choices.

One is a throat damper replaced in its original position. The other seals at the top of the chimney and is worked by a cable from below. The top-sealing type also keeps rain and animals out of the flue, but not every model suits every fuel. Some are not meant for fireplaces with gas logs, so we match the damper to how the fireplace is used.

Tell us whether the handle moves and whether you can see daylight with it closed. Mention whether the fireplace burns wood or gas. The inspection is free, and we explain the options with upfront pricing on a free written estimate. Choose to go ahead with any service within 72 hours of that free inspection, and 10% comes off it.

We clean up the firebox and haul away the old damper parts. A written record of the work and our workmanship warranty follow the job. Maintenance visits can keep the new damper moving freely. If you are unsure which damper you have, describe the handle or chain you see, and we identify it on site.