Family-owned prefab fireplace repair serving Crown Point

A damper stuck open or closed

A damper blade that will not open fully restricts the smoke path, and one that will not close lets cooled indoor air escape up the chimney between fires. In a factory-built unit, the fix depends on the model's own handle, blade and weight parts.

We check whether the trouble is rust, a bent part or a missing piece, then order the matching part. If the damper belongs to an assembly marked not field replaceable, we tell you before discussing other options.

Doors fully open or fully closed

Door habits matter on a prefab unit. One maker's manual says that while the fireplace is burning, glass doors must be fully opened or fully closed, because doors left partly open may draw flame out of the opening.

The same manual notes that a fireplace with glass doors has a limited air supply, and that too large a fire behind closed doors builds excessive heat. We go over those habits after any door repair so the new glass lasts.

Two chimneys in one chase

Some homes have two factory-built fireplaces venting through one chase. One maker suggests separating the terminations by at least 24 inches center to center and staggering their heights by 18 inches, to keep smoke from one drifting into the other.

When one fireplace smokes only while the other is burning, we look at the spacing at the top first. Changes there use the listed termination parts for each system.

• Center-to-center spacing
• Height difference between the tops
• Listed termination parts for each system

What stays away from the fireplace

Owner manuals for factory-built fireplaces carry a short safety list. One maker's list includes keeping gasoline and other flammable liquids away, keeping clothing and flammable materials off and away from the appliance, keeping furniture and drapes clear and never leaving children unattended while a fire is burning.

We mention these points again after a repair, because a new part is only as safe as the way the fireplace is used.

• Flammable liquids kept away
• Clothing and fabrics off the unit
• Furniture and drapes clear
• Children supervised near a fire