Chimney inspections and repairs for Lake Richmond homes

A top-sealing damper is a good upgrade, and it still needs occasional attention. In Lake Richmond, an Orlando neighborhood on the city's official list, owners of chimneys fitted with one sometimes find that the handle in the firebox no longer holds, the cable feels slack or the damper does not seal the way it used to.

A top-sealing damper sits on top of the flue and closes a lid against a gasket. A spring holds it open, and a stainless cable running down the flue to a bracket in the firebox holds it closed. When the cable stretches, frays or slips from its bracket, the damper can pop open or refuse to close.

When the gasket hardens or cracks, air, insects and humid outside air get past it even when it is shut. The spring and hinge can also corrode, especially if the damper was not the right size for the flue or the crown it sits on is breaking up. Never light a fire with the damper closed, and never force the handle.

Check that the damper opens fully before a fire by looking for daylight up the flue with a flashlight from the firebox. If you are not sure it is open, do not light the fire. Our technicians inspect the damper, cable, bracket, gasket and spring, along with the crown and flue tile it is mounted on.

Many repairs involve replacing the cable or gasket with the maker's parts. If the damper is damaged beyond that, or the crown under it needs rebuilding, the estimate explains the options and the order they should happen in. Our family-owned company provides that inspection in Lake Richmond free. You receive a clear, itemized estimate with upfront pricing, and a repair booked within 72 hours after the inspection is 10% off.

The work we do comes with a workmanship warranty, and same-day appointments open up when the schedule has room.