A chimney top damper fitted properly in Lauderhill
Homes in Lauderhill get the same careful check of flue, tile and fireplace before any damper is ordered.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Reasons to ask about a top damper in Lauderhill
- Throat damper rusted shut or missing
- Leaves or nesting on the smoke shelf
- Handle bracket loose in the firebrick
- A cap that no longer keeps rain out
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What goes into a top damper job in Lauderhill
What the building code says about dampers
The Florida Building Code requires a masonry fireplace to have a damper. The code allows it in the fireplace itself or higher up in the chimney serving it, provided it can be worked from the same room as the fireplace. A cable-worked damper at the flue top fits that description.
The code also calls for a ferrous metal damper, and some top dampers are made largely of aluminum. We check a product's material and listing against that rule before recommending one, and we tell you what we checked and why. That way the new damper answers to the code as well as to the fireplace.
Keeping the throat clear of the old plate
A rusted throat damper can hang half open, drop without warning or catch the new cable. Any of those can narrow the smoke path or stop the top damper working properly.
We look at the old plate and its frame when the top damper is proposed. If the plate is loose, we explain whether it should come out or be secured open. If the frame itself is corroded, we note it. The cable route is then planned around whatever stays in the throat.
Replacement cables and handles
Many cable dampers can be serviced rather than replaced. Makers sell hardware kits with a handle, chain, bracket and anchors, and cable packs with a new cable and cable spring. A frayed cable or a broken handle does not by itself mean a new damper.
We identify the make of an existing damper before recommending anything. If a hardware kit will restore it, the estimate says so. If the lid, hinge or frame has failed, we explain why replacement makes more sense. You see both options before deciding.
What the damper inspection cannot see
From the firebox and the roof, we can see the throat, the smoke shelf, the tile top and the upper flue. Parts of the flue in between, the back of the smoke chamber and anything behind old sealant stay hidden.
We tell you what we saw and what we could only infer. If a hidden condition could affect the damper, such as a crack near the top of the tile, we explain how it would come to light. The written estimate records the limits of the inspection, so you know what was checked.
Checked before a top damper is ordered
- Adapter for a round or lined flue
- Seal checked from the roof
- Other flues on the chimney identified
- Roof access planned before climbing
Questions to settle before a top damper
Can a top damper be fitted to any fireplace?
No. Makers restrict where their dampers can go, and several products are marked not for use with gas-burning appliances. The flue shape, the tile top and what else vents through the chimney also matter, so we check all of it first.
Can a top damper keep animals out of the flue?
When it is shut, the lid and gasket close the opening that animals use. It must not be fitted over an animal already inside, so we check the flue first. If something is living there, removal comes before the damper.
Can I fit a top damper myself?
One maker's instructions recommend professional installation, and the work happens on the roof and inside the firebox. We would rather you stayed off the roof. If you have already bought one, we can check whether it suits your fireplace.
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.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
- Chimney TuckpointingRenew deteriorated mortar joints around chimney bricks that can appropriately remain.
- Chimney Sweep and Chimney CleaningArrange careful chimney cleaning in Miami with a defined scope, protected work area and useful findings.
- Chimney Damper Repair and ReplacementRestore a usable damper mechanism after checking the plate, frame and control linkage.
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