Fireplace damper replacement for Mission Bay homes
A damper should open fully, close squarely and move from the room. We work toward all three.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Damper problems worth a free inspection
- Plate drops shut while a fire burns
- Rust flakes collecting on the firebox floor
- Damp debris resting on the smoke shelf
- No damper visible above the opening
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How we approach a throat damper
Close the damper only after the fire is out
The damper should stay open until the fire is fully out and the firebox has cooled. Embers that still glow give off smoke and gases that need the open flue. Closing too early can leave them nowhere to go but the room.
A damper that is hard to close tempts people to shut it early, while the handle is still easy to reach. If your control only moves with effort, that is a reason to have it checked. After repair we show you where the fully open and closed positions are, so the handle tells you the truth.
Letting new mortar cure before a fire
Where a damper frame is set in new mortar, that mortar needs time to dry before it meets heat. Heat-resistant fireplace mortars come with drying and curing instructions from their makers. Some call for a period of air drying and then small fires to finish the cure.
We explain the waiting time and the steps for returning the fireplace to use. Following the product instructions protects the joint around the new frame. A large fire too soon can crack fresh mortar and loosen the work you just paid for.
Handing the working damper back to you
When the work is done, we show you the control and the plate positions. You work the damper yourself while we watch. If anything about the feel or the movement is unclear, we explain it on the spot.
You also get a written record of the work. It says which parts were freed, re-hung or replaced and what was left as it was. Keep it with any fireplace manuals. It helps with later maintenance visits and gives the next owner a clear history of the damper.
A bent control rod or arm
A control rod bent by force or heat can bind in its slot. The handle then moves stiffly, and the plate may stop short of fully open without any sign from the room.
Straightening a bent rod can weaken it, so we usually replace it with a matching one. The plate and frame are checked at the same time, since whatever bent the rod may have strained them too. The estimate lists the rod on its own line. If the rod belongs to a factory-built unit, we order it from that model's parts list.
What your free damper inspection covers
- Throat measurement for a replacement damper
- Open and closed positions shown to you
- Mortar drying and curing instructions
- Workmanship warranty on completed damper work
Throat damper questions, answered plainly
Why does the damper rattle when the wind picks up?
A loose plate, worn pivots or a slack control rod can let the plate move in air currents. We find which part is loose and tighten, adjust or replace it. Tell us whether it rattles with the plate open or closed.
Will you show me the damper part that failed?
Yes, if you would like to see it. We point out the worn pivot, broken lug or bent rod before replacing it. Old parts are then bagged and hauled away with the rest of the debris.
Can a replacement control be placed where I can reach it?
Often, yes. When a control is replaced, we place it where it can be worked from the room without leaning into the firebox. The code expects the damper to be operable from the room, so that is part of the goal.
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