A chimney top damper fitted properly in Medley
Approve the damper work within 72 hours of your free inspection and it is 10% off.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues your fireplace needs a better damper
- Damper handle that no longer moves
- Air moving down an idle fireplace
- Birds or insects coming down the flue
- Stiff pull on the damper chain
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Top mount damper work in Medley
Why people choose a top damper
People often ask about a top damper for one of a few reasons. The throat damper has rusted, warped or disappeared. The fireplace sits idle and lets outside air, rain or animals in. Or the old damper still works but leaks badly when shut.
A top damper can address those cases, but only when the fireplace and the flue suit one. We look at the reason behind your question first. Sometimes the answer is a top damper, sometimes a throat damper repair and sometimes a cap.
A decorative gas appliance changes the answer
Some wood fireplaces have had a vented decorative gas appliance installed in the firebox. Appliances of that type are built to a standard for decorative gas appliances in solid-fuel fireplaces. The manual we checked for one of them calls for the chimney damper to be fully open whenever it burns.
Several top damper products carry a warning against those installations. If your fireplace has, or will have, a gas appliance of any kind, tell us. We check both sets of instructions before saying yes or no. In many of those cases, a top damper is simply not an option.
When the lid no longer seals
A damper that closes but lets air or water through has usually lost its seal. The gasket may be worn, the lug may have slipped down the cable, or the frame may have shifted on the tile top as the adhesive aged.
You may notice air moving at the firebox, rain on the firebox floor or daylight up the flue with the handle locked. Mention which. We check the gasket and frame from above and the cable setting from below. Resetting the lug or fitting a new gasket can be enough when the frame is still firmly fixed.
An open lid should not choke the smoke
When the damper is open, the lid should sit clear of the smoke leaving the flue. One maker describes its low-profile design as least obstructive to exiting smoke when open. A damper that opens only part-way, or a cap set low above it, can narrow the path.
We check how far the lid opens on your chimney and what sits above it. If smoke has lingered since an earlier damper was fitted, tell us. We look at the lid opening, the cap height and the cable setting before suggesting any change.
Parts of the damper job priced separately
- Gasket type and seal check
- Check for animals or nesting first
- Set time before the next fire
- Flue top covered if work pauses overnight
Top sealing damper FAQs for Medley
Can you fit a top damper on a round or lined flue?
Often, yes. Makers offer adapters for round flue tiles, stainless liners and some factory-built chimneys. We confirm that the adapter and damper suit your flue, and that the chimney's own instructions allow it, before quoting.
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 should I mention when I call about a damper?
Say whether the fireplace burns wood or anything else, what your current damper does or fails to do and whether anything else vents through the chimney. That lets us plan the visit to your home in Medley.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Hurricane and Storm Damage Chimney RepairAssess storm-related chimney concerns and distinguish temporary protection from permanent component repair.
- Spalling Brick Repair and Chimney Brick ReplacementReplace deteriorated chimney bricks while retaining suitable surrounding masonry.
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo