Top sealing dampers chosen and fitted in Key Biscayne
Your free inspection covers the fireplace, the flue top and the damper you have now.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Signs a top sealing damper could help in Key Biscayne
- Damper handle that no longer moves
- Lid that will not open fully
- Rust flakes dropping from the throat
- Stiff pull on the damper chain
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The details behind a sealing top damper
A damper that closes the flue at the top
A top sealing damper is a hinged lid mounted on the top of the flue. A gasket around its edge presses against the frame when it is shut. A cable runs from the lid down through the flue to a handle inside the fireplace, so you open and close it from the room.
Because it closes the flue at the top rather than just above the firebox, the whole flue sits behind the seal when it is shut. Rain, leaves and animals stay out, and so does outside air. When the lid is open, the flue works as it did before.
Dealing with the old throat plate
When a top damper goes in, the old throat damper is not needed to close the flue any more. It still has to be dealt with, because a plate that swings shut by accident blocks the smoke path.
Depending on its condition, the old plate may be fixed fully open, removed or left in place if it cannot move. We explain which we recommend and why. That item appears on the estimate separately from the new damper. The aim is a clear smoke path with only one damper in charge.
Damper cap or damper plus separate cap
You can often choose between a damper that includes its own cap and a damper that sits beneath a separate cap. A combined unit is one part to maintain. A separate cap may let you keep a sound cap you already have.
The right choice depends on the flue, the existing cap and the space above the tile. We look at all three and explain the tradeoffs. The estimate shows the route we recommend and what happens to the current cap, whether it stays, is adjusted or is replaced.
When the firebrick cannot take an anchor
The bracket needs sound firebrick. Cracked, crumbling or loose brick near the front of the firebox will not hold anchors, and drilling into it can make the damage worse.
If the side you prefer has damaged brick, we look at the other side. If both sides are poor, firebox repair may have to come first, and that is a separate job. We explain the options before drilling. A bracket that pulls out of the wall leaves the lid with no reliable control.
Included in your damper visit in Key Biscayne
- Fireplace type and fuel confirmed
- Adapter for a round or lined flue
- Set time before the next fire
- Old hardware and debris hauled away
Top mount damper answers for homes in Key Biscayne
How do I open the lid before lighting a fire?
Release the handle from its bracket so the spring lifts the lid. Most designs show a clear open position at the handle. If you cannot tell that the lid is open, do not light the fire, and ask us to check it.
Does the damper also work as a chimney cap?
Some models include a cap and screen, while others are made to sit under a separate cap. We tell you which type we are proposing and whether your existing cap stays, comes off or needs replacing.
Should I repair the throat damper instead of adding one on top?
Sometimes that is the simpler route. A throat damper that only needs freeing or a new handle may be worth repairing. One that is warped, rusted through or missing parts may point to a top damper instead, and we price both.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo