A chimney top damper fitted properly in Lauderdale Lakes
We fit the handle where you can reach it and anchor the bracket without cracking the firebrick.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
When a chimney top damper makes sense in Lauderdale Lakes
- Outside noise carrying down the flue
- Lid that no longer closes tight
- Worn or torn gasket at the top
- Old damper plate stuck part-way
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Fitting a top damper the maker's way
How the rubber gasket seals the lid
The seal at the top comes from a gasket between the lid and the frame, often silicone rubber on current models. When the lid is pulled shut, the gasket compresses and closes the gap. A frame without a sound gasket closes but does not seal.
Gaskets age with heat and weather. A flattened, cracked or torn gasket lets air and water past a closed lid. On an existing top damper, we look at the gasket first. Some makers sell replacement parts, which can be cheaper than a new damper when the rest of the unit is sound.
Confirming the closed lid from above
Once the cable and handle are set, someone goes back up to look at the lid in its closed position. The gasket should be pressed evenly all the way round, with no gap at the corners or the hinge side.
That step is in the maker's instructions for a reason. A damper that looks closed from the firebox can still leave a gap at the top. We check it with the handle locked, adjust if needed and check again. The record of the work notes that the seal was confirmed from above.
What the free inspection checks for a damper
For a damper question, the free inspection starts at the fireplace. We look at the current damper, the throat, the smoke shelf and the firebox walls where a bracket could go. Then we go up and look at the flue top, the tile, the crown and any cap.
We also ask what burns in the fireplace and how often. From there, we can say whether a top damper suits it and what else would need doing. You receive the findings and a free written estimate. Nothing is ordered until you approve it.
The order a top damper job follows
A top damper job runs in a set order. We confirm the fuel and product limits, check the flue for animals and debris, and clean the tile top. Any tile or crown repair you approved comes next. Then the frame is set in adhesive, the cable fed down and the bracket fixed.
After that, the lug is set, the seal checked from the roof and the operation shown to you. Following that order keeps the damper from being fitted over a problem. If your job has stages or a wait, the estimate lists them in sequence.
Top damper details we record in Lauderdale Lakes
- Flue cleaned before the frame is set
- Operating walk-through at handover
- Other flues on the chimney identified
- Flue top covered if work pauses overnight
Common questions about chimney top dampers
How does the 72-hour inspection discount apply to a damper?
It starts at your own free inspection. Damper work, and any other service on that estimate, approved inside 72 hours of it is 10% off. After that, the estimate stands at its written price.
Does a top damper need any upkeep?
Occasional checks help. The gasket, the hinge, the spring and the cable all wear with use. On a maintenance visit, we check that the lid opens fully, closes tight and that the handle and bracket are secure.
What if my chimney has more than one flue?
The damper goes only on the flue that serves the fireplace. Other flues keep the termination their own appliances call for. We identify each flue before recommending a damper or cap for any of them.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Stone Chimney RepairRepair affected stone chimney surfaces with the supporting construction and visual match considered together.
- Gas Fireplace Repair and ServiceGet a model-specific gas fireplace service plan for the fault you are seeing or the maintenance your unit needs.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
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