What's Included

Fitting a top damper to your Geigers Landing chimney

The top of the chimney comes first

A top damper is glued to the flue tile, and it can only be as secure as that tile. A cracked or loose tile top, a crown that has broken up around the flue or open gaps at the tile will all undermine the mount.

Section R1003.9.1 of Florida's code asks for that cap to be sloped so water runs off, with a drip edge and with a caulked bond break at each flue liner. If the top of your Geigers Landing chimney needs that kind of repair, our team prices it first so the damper is never glued onto a failing surface.

Bonding the damper to the flue

In the Lock-Top installation instructions, the installer spreads a 1/4 inch bead of the furnished adhesive around the top of the chimney opening, centers the damper, presses the frame down firmly and fills any gaps with adhesive for a proper seal. The instructions allow the adhesive 24 hours to set before the damper is used.

Our installers follow the maker's instructions for the damper chosen for your Geigers Landing chimney, including its adhesive and its set time. We tell you when the fireplace can be used again, and the damper is not operated until the adhesive has set.

Anchoring the handle bracket in the firebox

The handle has to lock somewhere solid. The Lock-Top instructions mount the bracket on the firebrick toward the fireplace front, about 20 inches above the floor of the firebox, using two nail anchors in drilled holes, with the bracket squared before the second hole is drilled.

In your Geigers Landing fireplace we place the bracket where the maker's instructions call for it and where the handle is easy to reach without leaning into the firebox. The anchors go into sound firebrick, and a cracked brick in that spot is pointed out before we drill.

Using the damper with a wood fire

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's advice is to open the damper before the fire is lit, keep it open until the ashes have cooled, and never shut it at bedtime over warm ashes. The smoke and gases from the fire need that open flue to leave the house.

With a top damper the rule is the same, only the handle is in a different place. Our team shows you how to confirm the damper on your Geigers Landing chimney is open before you light a fire, and how to leave it open overnight while the ashes cool.