Family-owned chimney damper replacement in Lake Underhill
Book inside 72 hours of the inspection and 10% comes off the work. Our technicians check the damper, handle and frame for free.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What we check on your chimney damper
- Damper plate, frame and seat condition
- Full open-to-closed travel test
- Warping or cracks in the casting
- Workmanship warranty on damper work
How we repair and replace dampers in Lake Underhill
A damper stuck open
A damper that will not close lets cooled air escape up the chimney day and night, and lets outside air, insects and noise come down. It can go unnoticed for months because the fireplace still works.
The usual causes are a warped plate, a broken control, debris on the seat or a pivot that has seized in the open position. Our technicians find which one it is and fix it, so the damper closes evenly again between fires.
A stuck-open damper also lets debris fall into the firebox and leaves the flue open to animals if the cap is damaged. Closing the damper is only part of the fix, so we check the cap too and keep the flue protected.
Freeing a seized damper plate
A seized plate is freed with patience instead of force. Our technicians clear the debris, work rust loose at the seat and pivots, clean the contact surfaces and move the plate a little at a time until it swings freely.
Once it moves, we run it through its full travel several times and check that it seats evenly when closed. If freeing it reveals cracks or rust holes, we stop and explain the options before going further.
A freed damper stays freer with a simple habit. Opening and closing it a few times through the year keeps it from seizing again. Our technicians show you how and check the cap so water does not start the rust over.
Cast iron and steel dampers
Fireplace dampers are made of ferrous metal, cast iron or steel, because they sit in the heat of the fire. The code calls for a ferrous metal damper in masonry fireplaces.
Those metals rust when water reaches them, so a good replacement is only half the job. The other half is keeping rain off it, which is why our technicians look at the flue cap on every damper visit.
Metal dampers also expand with heat, and one that fits too tightly can bind during a fire. Our crew leaves the right clearance so the plate moves freely when hot and seals when cool.
Nests and animals resting on the damper
Birds and small animals sometimes nest on top of a closed damper or on the smoke shelf behind it. You may hear scratching or chirping, or find nesting material dropping into the firebox.
Animals are removed humanely as a separate service, and the damper is checked once the throat is clear. A cap on the flue keeps them from coming back.
If animals are present, never light a fire to drive them out. That can trap them or fill the room with smoke. Call us and we arrange humane removal before any damper work.
Other work in Lake Underhill
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Learn more about chimney damper repair and replacementLake Underhill services
Your chimney damper questions, answered
Is damper work covered by a warranty?
Yes. Damper repairs and replacements are backed by our workmanship warranty and our 100% satisfaction guarantee. The terms for your job are written on the estimate before you approve it.
Can I light a little newspaper to see whether the damper is open?
Please do not. If the damper is shut or jammed, that smoke comes straight into the room and can stain the fireplace face. Leave the fireplace cold and book the free inspection, and our technician checks the plate directly.
Request your free estimate
Share the job details and arrange a free inspection with our local team.
- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
Need an answer now? Call (352) 675-6376
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