Fireplace Damper Repair in Seattle

The damper is the metal plate that opens to let smoke out and closes when the fireplace is not in use. In older Seattle-area masonry fireplaces it is usually a cast iron throat damper sitting just above the firebox. Rain coming down an uncapped flue lands right on it, and after enough wet winters the hinge rusts, the handle seizes or the plate warps so it no longer closes tight.

A damper matters more here than people expect. With most Seattle homes on electric heat and fireplaces used only now and then, the fireplace sits closed most of the year. A damper that does not seal lets warm air leave the house all winter. One that is stuck closed means smoke in the room the next time someone lights a fire.

Signs you need this

• The handle will not move, or moves without opening anything
• A cold draft or a sooty smell coming from the fireplace
• Daylight visible up the flue with the damper closed
• Rust flakes on the firebox floor
• Smoke pouring into the room when a fire is lit

How we do it

1. Look at it from below and aboveAt the free inspection we check the damper plate, hinge, frame and handle, and look down from the roof for rain getting in.
2. Free or repair itSeized hinges are cleaned and freed, bent handles straightened or replaced, and broken parts swapped where the frame is still sound.
3. Replace when it cannot be savedIf the frame is rusted through, we price a top-sealing damper that closes at the top of the flue instead.
4. Stop the causeIf water is the reason, we cap the flue so the new damper is not rusting again in a few winters.

Repair the old damper or replace it?

If the cast iron frame is sound and only the hinge, handle or plate is the problem, a repair typically costs $150 to $450. If the frame itself has rusted thin or the plate is cracked, a top-sealing damper is often the better answer. It mounts on top of the flue, closes with a cable down to the fireplace, and seals with a gasket. It is priced at the inspection because it depends on the flue size.

What is a top-sealing damper?

It is a spring-loaded lid on top of the chimney with a rubber gasket, opened and closed by a cable that runs down into the firebox. When closed, it keeps out rain and animals as well as cold air. It also keeps the whole flue full of indoor air instead of cold outside air, which helps a fireplace start drafting when you light it.

Should the damper stay closed during a burn ban?

Yes, once the fire is fully out. During a Puget Sound Clean Air Agency burn ban, wood-burning fireplaces cannot be used at all. If a fire is already going when a ban is called, PSCAA's advice is not to add more fuel and simply let it burn out. Close the damper only after the ashes are cold.