Chimney top damper installation in Dover Shores West
Tell us how the fireplace behaves. Our pros in Dover Shores West handle the roof work, the fitting and the handover.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What goes into your top damper quote in Dover Shores West
Your written damper scope in Dover Shores West starts here and shows 10% off if you book within 72 hours after the inspection.
- Flue tile shape, size and height above the crown
- Condition of the tile rim where the frame will bond
- Damper model, frame and gasket named in writing
- Adhesive bond and the cure time before first use
Damper points that decide the fit in Dover Shores West
Practical notes from the damper installers serving Dover Shores West.
How it differs from the damper at the throat
A throat damper is a metal plate just above the firebox that pivots open and shut. Cast-iron throat dampers close metal on metal, and as they warp and rust, small gaps open around the plate.
By contrast, a top-sealing damper closes the whole flue at its outlet on a gasket, and it also keeps rain and debris out of the flue above the throat. During the inspection we explain which of the two suits your fireplace, and we put the reasoning in writing so you can weigh it at your own pace. Many homes end up using both, with the old throat plate left open and the new top damper doing the sealing.
When no stock size fits
Now and then a flue tile is an unusual size, badly out of square or finished with a rim that no stock frame can seat on. Forcing a near fit leaves gaps that the gasket cannot close.
In that case we explain what could be done at the flue top to give a damper a proper seat, or whether another way of closing the flue suits the chimney better. Either way you get the options and their prices before deciding. We would rather tell you a stock damper will not seal than install one that leaks from the first day.
The adhesive bead that holds the frame
Top dampers are usually glued to the tile with the maker's high-temperature adhesive. The Lock-Top instructions call for a 1/4 inch bead of the supplied adhesive around the top of the opening, the damper centered and pressed down firmly, and any gaps filled for a proper seal.
We follow the instructions for the model you choose, which is why the product is named in your estimate. A continuous bead with no gaps is what keeps rain and air from sneaking under the frame. The bead is checked all the way around before the damper is left to cure.
A drier flue and throat area
Rain falling down an open flue lands on the smoke shelf, the throat and the firebox, where it can rust metal parts and wash soot into the room below.
Closing the lid keeps that water out between fires. Paired with a sound crown and cap, it leaves the flue, the old throat plate and the firebox drier for the months the fireplace sits idle. A drier throat also means the old damper frame, if it stays, rusts more slowly.
Other work in Dover Shores West
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Learn more about top-sealing damper installationDover Shores West services
Answers about top-sealing dampers for Dover Shores West homeowners
If your damper question is not here, our Dover Shores West team is a phone call away.
Does a top damper replace my chimney cap?
It can, when the damper has a built-in cap and screen. Other models work alongside a separate cap. We tell you in writing what happens to your current cap.
My throat damper still works. Do I need a top damper?
Not necessarily. If it opens, closes and seals reasonably well, you may not need one. A top damper helps most when the throat damper has failed or when you want the flue closed tight between fires.
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