Replacing a fireplace damper by yourself is possible, and you can save yourself some serious money by foregoing professional consultation.
The average U.S. homeowner spends about $360 to replace a chimney damper. Depending on the damage involved and the damper type, most spend between $160 and $520. The average chimney damper replacement costs $360, with prices varying between $120 and $700 depending on the damper type and the damage involved.
In general, homeowners can expect to pay between $150 and $500 for a standard chimney damper replacement. One of the most significant factors that affect the cost of chimney damper replacement is the type of damper.
One of the earliest signs the damper needs attention is if it's difficult to open and close. This could indicate rust, corrosion, or warping caused by moisture or heat. These issues can prevent the damper from making a proper seal when closed, allowing heat to escape.
Damper Won't Close: This furthers downdraft problems and allows air to escape from your home. Damper Won't Open: Your fireplace becomes inoperable until this can be resolved. Broken Dampers: The damper plate is visibly cracked, broken, or has fallen into the firebox completely.
If the device is stuck in one position or won't fully close and open, there could be an issue with the controls or mechanism. Sticking, opening and closing problems often arise from corrosion, rust and structural issues. A professional repair company can help restore proper function to your fire damper.
Replacing a fireplace damper by yourself is possible, and you can save yourself some serious money by foregoing professional consultation.
Dampers typically run over $200 (sometimes more). It should take less than an hour to replace it but the plumber will probably also charge you for his time tracking one down and picking it up so you could expect to pay an additional $150 to $200 in labor.
Flip the damper into an open position and inspect the registers once more to see if airflow begins. You probably have a bad damper if, when the damper is closed, you feel limited airflow or none at all.
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If the damper is stuck in the closed position, using your fireplace would result in a room full of smoke and carbon monoxide, which is extremely dangerous. Your chimney damper should ALWAYS be open when burning a fire, no matter what!
It depends on the specific dampers you have and general usage conditions. However, the average butterfly damper should last about 20 years as long as you remember to clean and maintain your system. Electric dampers may only last about 15 years before the motor starts to experience problems.
The damper and flue are two different parts, but they are related and involved in the same function. The flue is the inside tunnel of your chimney that brings gases from your fireplace out of your home, while the damper closes or opens the access to the flue.
The first enemy is common to all wear items – time. At about 500,000 miles, silicone tends to harden. The harder the silicone, the less functional the damper. The second cause of failure is droppage.
They are round discs made of thick fiberglass or dense cardboard (similar to egg crate bedding) They have a handle that can be turned either direction to allow or stop airflow through the damper. Some dampers have a pointed metal pin attached for easy grip when turning.
Years of heat exposure may have caused irreparable damage, but sometimes a simple realignment can fix the issue. The plate on the bottom of the damper normally pivots in a notch along the back of the damper's opening. If it's not doing that, shift the damper plate until it does.
Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney, it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don't feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.
In 2021 the University of Maryland released a report on the Reliability of Fire Dampers, Smoke Dampers and Smoke Control Systems. 53% of dampers in existing buildings needed repairs.
The average cost to replace a motorized damper is $350, but it can cost between $250 and $450, depending on the cost of materials and labor. A motorized damper regulates the flow of air inside your HVAC system, which in turn controls the temperature in your home.
If the damper is closed and you are feeling low airflow, or none at all, it is most likely a bad damper.
Whether your fireplace is gas or wood-burning, if it was built with a pre-fabricated insert, then it almost certainly has a damper. And while older wood-burning fireplaces can function safely without a damper (gas fireplaces cannot), a chimney without a damper is just a gaping hole in the roof of your house.
This damper, located at the top of the firebox, swings down to seal the throat shut when you don't use the fireplace. Most dampers are constructed of cast iron or steel and will be black or rust-colored. You can reach inside of the fireplace opening and behind the lintel to touch the damper.
Remove the Damper
To do this, tilt the damper up so it is open. You may find a bracket that holds it into place; if so, remove the bracket and then slip the damper out. If the damper is stuck because of rust or soot, wiggle it gently back and forth. It will eventually loosen, allowing you to pull it out.