Repairing and replacing throat dampers in Pinewood
A damper repair booked inside 72 hours of your free inspection earns a 10% discount.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Damper trouble that shows at the handle
- Damper stuck shut before a fire
- Plate drops shut while a fire burns
- Soot stains above the fireplace opening
- Cooled air drifting up the flue
Jump to
Fixing the damper you already have
Rotary crank controls
A rotary control uses a crank on the fireplace face or just inside the opening. Turning it drives a small gear or screw that moves the plate. It gives fine control, but it has more moving parts than a simple rod.
When the crank spins without moving the plate, the gear or the rod behind it has usually slipped or stripped. When the crank will not turn at all, rust has often locked the mechanism. We trace the fault from the crank back to the plate and say which piece has failed before any part is ordered.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds while the fireplace is in use, get everyone out of the house. Once you are outside, call 911 and wait there until responders say the house is clear. Do not go back in to close the damper or to put out the fire.
An alarm means the detector has sensed carbon monoxide in the room. A damper that closed on its own or opened only partway is one possible reason, and there are others. Leave the fireplace unused until the cause has been found and the damper and flue have both been checked.
A damper that rattles on windy days
A plate that rattles when wind crosses the chimney top is loose in its frame or on its pivots. The noise can be an early clue that the damper is wearing, before it fails to open or close.
A rattle can come from worn pivots, a loose control rod or a plate that no longer seats. We check each of those and tighten or replace the part that moves. Tell us whether the sound happens with the plate open, closed or both. That narrows the search before the visit.
Repair now, plan the rest later
Sometimes a damper needs a small repair now and a larger decision later. For example, a control can be replaced on this visit while you decide about a new frame.
We are open about what a partial repair achieves and what it leaves. The estimate shows the immediate item and the later option separately, and you decide the order. Nothing about the smaller repair locks you into the larger one. If the partial repair would only delay a failure, we tell you that as well.
Damper items you approve first
- Plate re-hung on its pivots
- Throat measurement for a replacement damper
- Chimney top water source noted
- Operation check from inside the room
Before you approve damper work
Can I spray a lubricant on a damper that will not move?
We suggest leaving it alone. Many sprays are flammable and not made for the heat above a fire, and forcing the plate after spraying can crack the casting. Describe the fault to us and let us free it.
Is a warped damper plate a safety problem?
It can be. A warped plate may bind before it opens fully, which can send smoke into the room, and it leaves gaps when closed. We check whether it still works safely and whether it should be replaced.
Is damper repair covered by a warranty?
Our workmanship warranty covers the work we did on the damper. If our repair does not hold as it should, tell us and we come back to look at it. Ask us to explain the terms for your job before you approve.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Flashing RepairRepair the chimney-to-roof connection with a scope that accounts for the adjoining roofing and masonry.
- Firebox RepairRepair the damaged fireplace chamber using an approach suited to masonry or manufactured components.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Chimney Crown RepairRepair the damaged chimney top with an approach matched to the crown and supporting masonry.
- Top-Sealing Damper InstallationFit a top-mounted damper only after checking the fireplace, product restrictions and control route.
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