Top sealing damper installation for homes in Richmond Heights
A top damper can close an idle flue against rain and animals, as long as it suits the fireplace.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Damper trouble that points to a top damper
- Air moving down an idle fireplace
- Birds or insects coming down the flue
- Rust flakes dropping from the throat
- A cap that no longer keeps rain out
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Top sealing damper installation in Richmond Heights, explained
An access plate under the damper frame
Not every flue top is flat and even. Chipped edges or uneven tiles can leave gaps under a damper frame, and one maker's instructions have those gaps filled with the adhesive supplied. The same maker sells an access plate that is bedded on the flue first, with the damper then screwed to it.
Because the damper is held to the plate by screws rather than set straight onto the tile in adhesive, it can be unscrewed later without breaking the adhesive bond. We check whether a plate is offered for the model you choose and whether it suits your flue top. If one is used, it is listed on the estimate and noted in the record.
Choosing the side for the handle
The handle goes on whichever side of the firebox you find easier to reach. If you are right-handed and the fireplace sits in a corner, one side may be much more practical than the other. The instructions leave that choice to the owner.
We ask before drilling. Think about where furniture sits, where you stand to light a fire and who else in the house will use it. The handle should be reachable without leaning far into the firebox, and a quick test pull before we leave confirms that it is.
Leave the flue top to us
A top damper is installed and serviced from the roof, and the flue top is often the hardest place on a house to reach. One damper maker's instructions recommend professional installation for that reason.
Please do not climb up to look at the damper, free a stuck lid or adjust the cable from above. Describe what the handle does from inside the room, and we take it from there. We bring the ladders and the safety gear, and we look at the roof around the chimney while we are up.
When we advise against a top damper
Some fireplaces are poor candidates for a top damper, and we tell you so. The usual reasons are a gas appliance in the firebox or a flue that also vents another appliance. A factory-built chimney whose maker does not allow it, or a flue top that cannot hold a frame, are others.
In those cases, we explain what else can be done, such as a throat damper repair, a cap or leaving the arrangement as it is. You receive that advice in writing. We would rather lose a sale than fit a damper that works against the fireplace.
Line items on a top damper estimate
- Anchors set in sound firebrick
- Other flues on the chimney identified
- Old hardware and debris hauled away
- Roof access planned before climbing
Answers about top dampers in Richmond Heights
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.
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.
Will the open lid slow the smoke leaving the chimney?
A properly sized damper should open wide enough not to choke the flue, and some designs are made to sit clear of the smoke path when open. We check the lid opening against the flue and tell you what we found.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney Liner Installation and ReliningPlan a compatible chimney liner installation with the existing passage, connections and maintenance access considered together.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
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Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo