Our Process
Top damper installation in Markham, in detail
The gasket that seals the flue
A throat damper closes metal against metal, which often leaves gaps once the plate has warped. A top damper's lid presses a heat-resistant gasket onto the top of the flue. Rockford Chimney Supply's product listing says the silicone gasket on the Lyemance flap makes a tight seal that prevents downdrafts, moisture and insects.
The gasket seals only if the flue top is flat and the cable pulls the lid down evenly. Our installers check the flue top on your Markham chimney, set the lid square and adjust the cable until the lid closes firmly, then show you how the handle tells you it has sealed.
A mounting ring for later service
Some makers offer a ring that sits in the adhesive and takes the damper's screws. In the Lock-Top instructions this option is the Sweep's Ring, sold on its own, and it lets the damper frame fasten to the ring rather than being glued straight to the tile.
Whether your Markham chimney needs one depends on the flue top and how the chimney will be serviced in future. Our team explains the choice and lists the ring on the estimate only if we recommend it.
Testing the damper before we leave
An installation is finished only when the damper opens and closes the way it should. Our installers cycle the damper on your Markham chimney several times, watch the lid from the roof, check that the handle locks and releases cleanly and confirm the lid opens all the way.
You then operate it yourself while we watch, so the positions are clear. The written record of the work notes the damper model, the flue size and the handle position that means closed, which helps anyone who services the chimney later.
Chimney cleaning with a top damper in place
A top damper sits right where a sweep's brush comes out of the flue, and the cable hangs down the inside of it. Anyone who cleans the chimney needs to know the damper is there, open it fully and work around the cable instead of through it.
When we clean or inspect a chimney with a top damper in Markham, our team works with the mechanism in mind. After your installation, the written record names the damper, so any future service visit starts with that information.
