New dampers
A new damper goes in when the old one is beyond repair sized to the fireplace.
Chimney Parts
Chimney Damper Repair Country Club Hills, IL
A chimney sweep in Country Club Hills can repair a damper that is stuck, rusted, warped or no longer seals so the fireplace drafts properly and stops leaking heated air. Dial (708) 816-0120 to talk with a local chimney pro about your damper.
The damper is the movable plate that opens the flue when a fire is burning and closes it when the fireplace is not in use. The most common type is a throat damper, a cast iron or steel plate that sits right above the firebox and opens with a handle or chain. Because it sits in heat, soot and moisture, it wears out over time.
If a damper will not open, lighting a fire sends smoke straight into the house. 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. A damper should stay open until the ashes are cold.
A damper that will not close lets warm air out all winter and cooled air out all summer. Even when they close, many old throat dampers leave gaps along the edges. A top sealing damper often solves both the seal and the rust problem.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney damper repair in Country Club Hills, IL can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and fireplace repair.
Dealing with this in Country Club Hills, IL right now? Call (708) 816-0120 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney damper repair works
A damper repair starts with figuring out why it is not working.
Inspect the damper
The sweep looks at the plate, the frame, the handle and the linkage. Rust and buildup are checked too.
Clear the frame
Buildup that keeps the plate from moving is removed. This alone fixes some stuck dampers.
Free the plate
The linkage between the handle and plate is fixed so it moves again. Some repairs depend on parts being available.
Install a new damper
A damper that is rusted through or badly warped is replaced, often with a top sealing damper. You will hear which choice makes sense for your fireplace.
Test the operation
The final step confirms the damper opens fully and closes tight. Ask how to work it if it is a new style.
What is included
What chimney damper repair covers
Top mount dampers
A top sealing damper closes the flue at the crown and is opened with a cable for a much tighter seal.
Throat damper repair
The plate and frame above the firebox are freed and realigned with worn parts replaced.
Gas log damper clamps
Vented gas log fireplaces need a damper stop to prevent carbon monoxide from building up.
Handle repair
Loose or broken controls are replaced so you can open the flue easily.
Related service
Chimney Damper Replacement Country Club Hills, IL
Some dampers are too far gone to repair, especially when the plate is rusted through or the frame is broken. A new throat damper is possible in some fireplaces, though the opening has to match. For many fireplaces, a top sealing damper is the easier and tighter fit.
When you call (708) 816-0120 from Country Club Hills, mention whether the damper is stuck, rusted or just drafty. If the fireplace has gas logs, say so, since the damper must stay open with vented logs. The sweep will explain the options and what fits your fireplace.
Related service
Top Sealing Damper Country Club Hills, IL
Top sealing dampers sit on the top of the flue and close with a tight rubber or silicone gasket. A cable down the flue connects it to a handle mounted inside the fireplace. Many include a built in cap and mesh.
The flue stays closed off from outside air when the fireplace is not in use. It also keeps rain from running down the flue. In very cold weather, the gasket should be checked to make sure it has not frozen to the frame before a fire is lit.
Local help
Chimney Damper Repair Near Me
Dampers in Country Club Hills fireplaces take the brunt of heat in winter and moisture the rest of the year. In Country Club Hills and places nearby like Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Markham and Homewood, a damper left open in summer can let humid air and odors into the house, and a top sealing damper is a popular upgrade for older fireplaces.
Need chimney damper repair around Country Club Hills? Call (708) 816-0120 for a Country Club Hills chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Country Club Hills
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Country Club Hills chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Country Club Hills know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Damper Repair questions
Can I use my fireplace if the damper is broken?
That comes down to how it is broken: a damper stuck shut makes the fireplace unsafe, while one stuck open mainly wastes heat. One that is stuck open is mostly an energy and comfort problem. Have it checked before using the fireplace again.
Should the damper be open with gas logs?
Vented gas logs need the damper fixed open, usually with a damper clamp, because they produce combustion gases that must escape. A closed damper with logs burning is a serious carbon monoxide risk. Keep CO alarms in the home and follow the manufacturer instructions for the logs.
How does a top sealing damper work?
It is a damper at the top of the chimney that seals the flue when closed. It is operated by a cable that runs down to a handle in the firebox. Many include a cap and screen.
Why is my chimney damper stuck?
Rust, soot and creosote buildup are the most common reasons a damper sticks. Worn linkage or a bent frame can cause it too. A sweep can clean it, repair the parts or replace the damper.
When should I close the fireplace damper?
Leave the damper open until the ashes are cold, which can take many hours. Smoldering embers produce carbon monoxide that needs to vent. Closing it when the fireplace is not in use saves energy.
More questions? Call (708) 816-0120
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreFireplace Repair
Repairing smoky, drafty or damaged fireplaces so they burn cleanly and safely again.
Learn moreSmoke Chamber Repair
Parging stepped brick, filling open joints and rebuilding the smoke shelf before heat can escape toward nearby framing.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Getting wildlife and debris out of fireplace and stove chimneys, then capping the top so they cannot return.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Country Club Hills chimney sweep about chimney damper repair
Call (708) 816-0120 for a local chimney sweep in Country Club Hills and nearby towns.
(708) 816-0120
Free to call. No forms to fill out.