The Small Metal Plate That Costs You Money
Above your firebox sits a metal door called the damper. Open, it lets smoke up the flue. Closed, it seals the chimney off from your house.
When a damper rusts open or will not seal, your chimney becomes a hole in the ceiling. In a Dallas summer, the cool air you pay for rises right out of it, and hot, humid air comes down. You may also notice a campfire smell on muggy days, or a draft across the floor in winter.
Dallas Chimney Care repairs and replaces fireplace dampers in Dallas, TX.
Signs of a Damper Problem
- The handle will not move, or moves but nothing happens
- You can see daylight or feel air with the damper “closed”
- Smoke comes into the room when you light a fire
- Rust flakes fall into the firebox
- A smoky smell in the room on humid days
- Higher cooling bills with no clear cause
Damper Repairs We Do
Freeing a stuck damper
We clean off the rust and soot, free the hinge and get the plate moving again.
Replacing parts
Broken handles, rods and plates can often be replaced without replacing the whole damper.
Installing a top-sealing damper
When a throat damper is rusted through or warped, the best fix is usually a top-sealing damper. It mounts at the top of the flue and closes with a gasket. It seals tighter than the original, and it keeps out rain, birds and squirrels, much like a chimney cap.
Why Dampers Fail in Dallas
Water is the main cause. A chimney with no cap lets rain fall straight onto the damper. Add long, humid summers, and a cast-iron plate can rust solid in a few years. That is why we check the cap and crown whenever we repair a damper.
A Note on Gas Logs
If you have vented gas logs, the damper usually has to stay open, and many are fitted with a clamp to hold it that way. We check that yours is set up safely. If you smell gas or get headaches when the logs are on, stop using them and call.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on efficient fireplace use in its Burn Wise program.
Why Dallas Chimney Care
Dallas Chimney Care is a small local company with an owner who has 20 years of hands-on experience and a certification from the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We are insured, and our repairs carry a 5-year workmanship warranty.
A damper is checked during every chimney inspection. For other problems, see fireplace repair or all fireplace services in Dallas.