Damper replacement
Rusted out or warped dampers are swapped for new ones sized to the fireplace.
Chimney Parts
Chimney Damper Repair Palos Heights, IL
Damper problems in Palos Heights fireplaces, from a broken handle to a rusted plate, can usually be fixed or replaced by freeing the plate, fixing the linkage or installing a new damper. Dial (708) 708-7262 to talk with a local chimney pro about your damper.
A chimney damper opens to let smoke out and closes to keep heated air from escaping up the chimney. Many fireplaces have a throat damper mounted above the firebox, while others have a top sealing damper at the top of the chimney. Heat, soot and water from the flue all take a toll on it.
A stuck shut damper means smoke and gases spill into the room instead of rising up the flue. If it happens with a fire going, open windows, get people out of the smoky room and call 911 if anyone feels sick or smoke keeps building. Leave the damper open until the fire and embers are completely out.
A damper that will not close lets warm air out all winter and cooled air out all summer. Throat dampers also tend to seal poorly over time as the plate warps or rusts. For many fireplaces, a top sealing damper is the better replacement.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Palos Heights chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or fireplace repair.
Need chimney damper repair in Palos Heights? Call (708) 708-7262 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Palos Heights.
Call nowThe process
The damper repair process
Here is how a sweep usually handles a damper problem.
Look at the plate
The technician checks how the damper moves and how well it closes. The smoke shelf and smoke chamber get a look as well.
Clean the area
Soot, creosote and rust are cleaned from the damper and frame. This alone fixes some stuck dampers.
Fix the linkage
The linkage between the handle and plate is fixed so it moves again. A warped plate may not be fixable.
Install a new damper
A damper that is rusted through or badly warped is replaced, often with a top sealing damper. The sweep explains the options before any replacement.
Final check
The sweep tests the damper and checks the draft. You will learn how to operate any new control.
What is included
Common damper repairs
Cast iron damper repair
Stuck, rusted or misaligned throat dampers are cleaned, adjusted and repaired where the plate is still sound.
Top sealing dampers
A top sealing damper closes the flue at the crown and is opened with a cable which keeps rain and animals out too.
Linkage repair
Broken handles, levers, rotary controls and pins are fixed so you can open the flue easily.
Gas log damper clamps
Vented gas log fireplaces need a damper stop which is a safety requirement.
Related service
Chimney Damper Replacement Palos Heights, IL
Some dampers are too far gone to repair, especially when the plate is rusted through or the frame is broken. Throat dampers can be replaced with a new throat damper, but access is limited and fit can be tricky. Many homeowners choose a top sealing damper instead, since it mounts at the top and seals better.
Calling (708) 708-7262 from Palos Heights with a quick description of the problem helps the sweep plan. Mention whether the fireplace burns wood or uses gas logs, since gas logs change the requirements. The sweep will explain the options and what fits your fireplace.
Related service
Top Sealing Damper Palos Heights, IL
A top sealing damper mounts at the top of the chimney and closes off the flue with a gasket that seals against the frame. You work it with a handle in the firebox attached to a cable running up the chimney. Some designs combine the damper with a cap and screen.
The flue stays closed off from outside air when the fireplace is not in use. It reduces water and debris getting in. Check that it is fully open before every fire.
Local help
Chimney Damper Repair Near Me
In Palos Heights, an old throat damper that will not seal can let heated air escape all through the heating season. From Palos Heights out to neighboring towns like Worth, Palos Park, Chicago Ridge and Palos Hills, sweeps regularly find stuck dampers, broken handles and rusted plates, which is why the damper is worth checking every time the chimney is swept.
Need chimney damper repair around Palos Heights? Call (708) 708-7262 for a Palos Heights chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Palos Heights
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Palos Heights chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Palos Heights
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Palos Heights and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Damper Repair questions
When should I close the fireplace damper?
Close the damper only after the fire and embers are completely out and the ashes are cold. Smoldering embers produce carbon monoxide that needs to vent. Closing it when the fireplace is not in use saves energy.
Why is my chimney damper stuck?
A damper sticks when rust, soot or debris keep the plate from moving. Problems with the control mechanism are another common cause. The fix depends on what is causing the stick.
Can I close the damper when using gas logs?
With vented gas logs, the damper has to stay open so carbon monoxide and other gases can go up the chimney. Closing the damper with gas logs running can fill the room with carbon monoxide. If you smell gas, leave the house without touching switches and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
Is it safe to light a fire with a broken damper?
If the damper is stuck closed, lighting a fire will push smoke and carbon monoxide into the house. One that is stuck open is mostly an energy and comfort problem. It is best to have it fixed first.
What is a top sealing damper?
It is a damper at the top of the chimney that seals the flue when closed. You open and close it with a handle attached to a cable. It often replaces a failed throat damper.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7262
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreFireplace Repair
Restoring masonry and factory-built fireplaces so they burn cleanly and safely again.
Learn moreSmoke Chamber Repair
Smoothing and sealing a rough or cracked smoke chamber before heat can escape toward nearby framing.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Clearing animals and nesting material out of chimneys and flues, and cleaning up what they left behind.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesGet chimney damper repair help in Palos Heights
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