Chimney damper replacement for homes in Middle River Terrace
Stuck shut, stuck open or dropping during a fire, a throat damper fault usually has a cause we can find.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What a failing throat damper looks like
- Grinding or squealing when the control moves
- Handle missing or snapped off
- Insects getting in through the fireplace
- Plate hanging crooked in its frame
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What goes into careful damper work
Setting a new frame in the throat
A replacement frame has to sit firmly in the throat so the plate closes squarely against it. Setting it may mean removing some mortar or brick around the old frame and resetting it afterward. Joints close to the fire are made with a mortar rated for that heat, following the product instructions.
We keep the disturbance as small as the job allows. Any firebrick that must come out is noted on the estimate, along with how it will be reset. If the throat masonry turns out to be weaker than expected, we stop and explain before going further.
A damper question when you buy a home
A new home can come with a fireplace nobody has used for a while. The damper may work perfectly, or it may be rusted in place. The seller may not know either way, and a quick look at the handle will not settle it.
Ask for any manuals or records that came with the fireplace. Before you plan a fire, try the control gently and see whether the plate moves. If it does not, or you cannot tell, the free inspection covers the damper, and the estimate lists anything it needs.
A missing handle or control
Sometimes the control has been lost entirely, leaving the plate with no way to be moved from the room. The plate may be stuck open, closed or somewhere between the two.
The building code asks that a masonry fireplace damper be operable from the room. A missing control therefore needs replacing even if the plate is sound. We find a control that suits the plate and frame you have. If none will fit, we explain the alternatives and what each one involves before you choose.
A control you can reach and use
A damper control placed deep in the throat, or behind the lintel where hands cannot reach, is hard to use safely. The code's requirement that the damper be operable from the room is a practical one.
When we replace a control, we place it where you can reach it without leaning into the firebox. We show you how to move it with the fire out and how to check the plate position. A control that is easy to reach is more likely to be used the right way.
Damper work priced item by item
- Control handle, rod or crank review
- Seat check with the plate closed
- Chimney top water source noted
- Separate prices for any added items
Asked before damper work begins
Will a new throat damper stop all air from escaping?
A throat damper is not airtight. A cast plate closes metal against metal and leaves small paths for air. A good repair closes the plate squarely, without wide gaps or rattle, which limits the loss.
Is it normal for a fireplace damper to show some rust?
Yes. A damper sits where heat and moisture meet, so light surface rust is common. Deep scale, pitting or holes are not normal. They usually point to water reaching the plate from above.
Could the damper be why my room smells of old smoke?
It can be one reason. A plate that does not close lets air drift down the flue and carry the smell of old deposits with it. We check the seal and the deposits and explain whether the damper is the cause.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo