Quick AnswerIf your damper won't close fully, rattles, or is missing altogether, you're losing heated or cooled air straight up the flue every day of the year. We install top-sealing dampers, which seal at the top of the chimney for the tightest fit, or repair and replace throat dampers when a top-sealing unit isn't the right fit for your setup.
What’s Included
A damper does its job long after the fire's out - it's what keeps your furnace or air conditioner from working overtime to replace air that's escaping up an open flue. We install both top-sealing and traditional throat dampers, matched to your chimney's construction and how you use the fireplace, and we test the seal before we call the job done.
- Top-sealing dampers mount at the very top of the flue with a stainless steel plate and rubber gasket, giving a tighter seal than a throat damper and doubling as a rain and animal barrier.
- Throat, or 'clamshell,' damper replacement is available where a top-sealing unit isn't practical, restoring a proper seal at the smoke chamber level.
- We size and match the damper to your specific flue dimensions and appliance type, whether it's a wood-burning fireplace, gas insert, or factory-built unit.
- Stainless steel cable-operated controls are routed so you can open and close the damper from the fireplace without climbing to the roof.
- We check the full draft path during installation, since a new damper installed over an existing draft problem won't solve anything on its own.
- Every install comes with a flat-fee written estimate up front, so the quoted price is the price you pay.
Signs You Need This
- A damper that won't close all the way or won't stay open
- Noticeable drafts near the fireplace even when it's not in use
- Higher heating or cooling bills with no other explanation
- Rusted, warped, or missing damper plates
- Daylight visible around the damper when it's closed
Our Process
Inspection and Recommendation
We inspect your current damper, or lack of one, and the flue itself, then recommend a top-sealing or throat damper based on your chimney's construction.
Written Estimate
You receive a flat-fee, written quote before any work starts - no guessing what the final bill will look like.
Removal and Installation
We remove the old or damaged damper and install the new unit, sealing and testing it for a tight fit against the flue.
Operation Check
We test the damper through a full open-close cycle and, for top-sealing units, verify the cable control operates smoothly from inside.
How Much Does It Cost?
Damper cost depends on the type - top-sealing dampers generally run more than a throat damper replacement because of the added hardware and cable control, but they also provide a tighter seal and double as backup protection against rain and animals. Flue size and accessibility factor in as well. As with every job, we provide a written, flat-fee estimate before any work begins, and that number doesn't change once we're on the roof.
FAQs
A throat damper sits just above the firebox and closes with a metal plate; a top-sealing damper sits at the top of the flue and closes with a gasketed plate, giving a noticeably tighter seal and added protection from rain and animals.
Yes. An open or poorly sealing flue is effectively a hole straight to the outside. A properly sealed damper stops that year-round air loss, not just during fireplace season.
It depends on the appliance - some gas inserts require the damper permanently open or removed for safe venting. We'll check your specific setup and recommend what's code-compliant and safe before installing anything.