Repair Options
Damper problems we solve for Lake Mary homes
When a damper at the top of the flue fits better
A failed throat damper can sometimes be fixed open and replaced by a damper mounted at the top of the flue, worked by a cable down into the fireplace. Whether that suits your chimney depends on the flue top, the cap arrangement and what burns in the firebox.
It is a different job with its own requirements, covered by our top sealing damper installation service. During the free inspection in Lake Mary, we tell you whether it is worth considering or whether the throat damper should simply be repaired.
The first fire after a damper repair
Before we leave, the damper is opened and closed several times and left in the position you choose. For the first fire, open it fully, start small and watch the smoke for a few minutes. If smoke rolls into the room, put the fire out safely and call us rather than adjusting the plate while it is hot.
Our 100% satisfaction guarantee covers the finished damper, so a problem after the job is ours to put right. That is how our family-owned company works in Lake Mary.
Cleaning the pivots and contact edges
Much of a damper repair is careful cleaning. Scale and soot are removed from the pivots, the plate edges and the seat so the metal parts meet as designed. Anything left on a damper has to tolerate the heat of the next fire, so we keep treatments to what the metal actually needs.
After cleaning, the plate is worked through its travel until it moves smoothly and closes flat. Our local damper experts in Lake Mary do this by hand, and booking it inside 72 hours of the inspection takes 10% off the price.
Smoke in the room, damper or something else
Partial opening is one cause of a smoky fireplace, but not the only one. A cold or blocked flue, an opening too large for the flue or a problem higher in the chimney can do the same. We check the damper first because it is the easiest cause to confirm or rule out.
If the damper is fine, we say so and explain what to look at next. Straight answers are part of our 100% satisfaction guarantee, and the first inspection in Lake Mary is free.
Replacing a missing or broken handle
Handles get removed during redecorating, snapped off or hidden behind a new surround. Without one, the plate stays wherever it was left, and no one can tell which way. Section R1001.7.1 of the Florida residential code expects a damper to be operable from the room containing the fireplace, and a new handle or crank restores exactly that.
We fit the control to the existing plate and linkage and confirm full travel. Call our local team to see the damper in Lake Mary free of charge, and ask about 10% off work booked within 72 hours of that visit.
