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Top sealing damper installation for Gainesville homes

Drafty flue or a rusted-shut damper? Local pros fit a top sealing damper, first look on us.

  • Family owned and run
  • Free inspection first
  • 100% satisfaction, guaranteed
  • Locally owned and operated

Request a Free Inspection

Prefer the phone? Call (352) 675-6366

What's Included

What comes with your chimney top damper installation

A top sealing damper sits on top of the chimney instead of down in the throat, with a gasketed lid you open and close from the firebox by a cable. Closed, it seals the flue against drafts, rain and critters; open, it lets the fire breathe. Our family-run local specialists fit one when the old throat damper has rusted past saving, after a no-charge look confirms the flue top is sound.

  • Top sealing damper installation on your flue's top tile
  • Control cable dropped to a handle inside the firebox
  • Gasket checked for a tight seal when the lid closes
  • Rusted throat plates taken out so they can't drop
  • Chimney top damper lids and gaskets replaced when worn

Photos

Top sealing dampers and chimney tops, pictured

Gloved hands press the frame of a top-sealing damper onto a clay flue tile over a bead of sealant.
A stainless chain from a top-mounted damper hangs down a tan brick firebox to a small wall bracket.

How It Works

Putting a top sealing damper on your chimney

  1. Measure the top tile

    Our pro sizes the top flue tile and checks it's sound enough to carry the damper.

  2. Bed the damper frame

    The frame gets bedded onto the top tile using the high-temperature adhesive the damper maker specifies.

  3. Run the cable down

    A stainless cable drops through the flue to a handle bracket mounted inside the firebox.

  4. Test the seal with you

    You open and close it yourself while we check that the gasket seats all the way around.

Your Options

A top damper or a repaired throat damper

A top sealer is one answer for a failing damper, and we lay out the others too.

WhenWhat we doWe check
WhenThroat damper rusted, flue soundWhat we doTop sealing damper with cable controlWe checkTop flue tile's size and condition
WhenThroat damper sticks but is repairableWhat we doRepair the throat damper insteadWe checkPlate, frame and handle wear
WhenA vented decorative gas appliance belowWhat we doKeep the damper fixed open, or skip itWe checkThe appliance's ANSI Z21.60 instructions

Parts and Materials

The parts of a top sealing damper

Damper lid and gasket
A spring-loaded lid with a heat-rated gasket, from a maker whose instructions set the sizes and fit.
Stainless cable and handle
The control cable and firebox bracket supplied with the damper, routed so the handle is easy to reach.
High-temperature adhesive
The adhesive the damper maker names for bonding the frame to the flue tile.

Cost Factors

What shapes the price of a top damper

  1. Flue size and shape

    Round, square or rectangular tiles take different frames, and odd sizes may need a custom fit.

  2. Condition of the top tile

    A cracked top tile gets repaired before a damper can sit on it.

  3. Removing the old throat damper

    A rusted plate that could fall or block the flue is taken out as part of the job.

Claim 10% off your first service

Put your top sealing damper on the calendar today; as a first service, it's 10% off.

Free Inspection

Checked before a top damper goes on

  • The top flue tile, measured and checked for cracks
  • The crown around the tile, where the damper frame sits
  • The old throat damper, and if it can stay in place
  • Any vented decorative gas appliance in the firebox
  • Where a top mount damper handle can go on the firebox wall
  • Rain entry and animal signs at the top of the flue

Why Choose Us

A tighter seal at the top of your flue

  • Locally owned and run
  • A family-run company
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee
  • Your inspection is free
  • Same-day visits available
  • Arrange a visit, take 10% off

A top sealing damper must suit the fireplace and every appliance using its flue. Our pros check that compatibility before recommending a model, then explain the proposed installation and price. A closable damper must not obstruct an appliance that requires an open vent. Discuss your fireplace and its fuel type with a local pro at (352) 675-6366.

  • Free inspection firstYour flue top and old damper get a free look before we suggest a top sealer.
  • Our workmanship warrantyThe damper, cable and handle we fit are covered under our workmanship warranty.
  • Your first service, 10% offA first service with our pros includes 10% off.

FAQs

Top sealing dampers, explained

What's the wait to get a top damper fitted?

Once the free look confirms the flue top is sound, we'll set the first open date, and a same-day fitting is sometimes possible. Until then, leave the old damper as it is.

Is the top damper priced before anyone climbs?

Yes. You'll get the damper, cable and any tile repair priced up front, with no charge for the inspection.

Can Newberry and Jonesville homes get a top damper from you?

Yes. Newberry and Jonesville are Alachua County places, and our pros work across it and the four other counties we serve. Bookings for either town go through (352) 675-6366.

What does top sealing damper installation involve?

Our pros bed the damper frame on the top flue tile, drop the cable down the flue and mount the handle in the firebox. Then we test the seal with you.

Throat damper repair or a top mount damper, which is better?

A throat damper that only sticks can be repaired. When the plate or frame has rusted through, a top mount damper seals better and keeps rain out as well. Reserve a look at your throat damper at (352) 675-6366.

Common Problems

Damper trouble a top sealer solves

  • Air pouring down the flue

    The old plate has stopped sealing. A gasketed lid on the chimney top shuts the flue far tighter than a warped throat plate.

  • A throat damper rusted in place

    Rust has frozen the plate or its hinge. When repair isn't worth it, our pros fit a top sealer instead.

  • Rain dripping into the firebox

    An uncapped or poorly capped flue lets water in. A top damper's lid keeps rain out whenever it's closed.

Get in Touch

Ask for a free look from our pros

Send a few details and we'll call you back to set up a visit.

  • Free inspection first
  • 100% satisfaction, guaranteed
  • No hidden fees, all upfront
Speak with a local pro(352) 675-6366

Leave your name and number, tell us what's going on, and we'll call you back to set up your free inspection.

Full service details

Sealing the flue from the chimney top

A top sealing damper does the damper's job from the other end of the flue. Its lid sits on the top tile, and a cable brings the control down to a handle in the firebox, so you still work it from inside the room.

Because it closes the flue at the top, the whole column of air inside stays put, and the lid doubles as a rain cover when shut. The damper maker's instructions set the sizing and mounting, and say if a separate cap is still wanted.

With a vented decorative gas appliance in the firebox

Appliances that require a permanent flue opening are not compatible with a damper that can close that opening. The actual appliance and damper instructions must permit the proposed arrangement; otherwise that installation is not a suitable option.

Living with a top sealing damper

Open the lid all the way before lighting a fire and leave it open until the ashes are cold, as the damper maker's instructions direct; shutting it early leaves smoke nowhere to go. The gasket and the cable are the parts that wear. A gasket that has hardened or torn lets drafts and rain slip past, and a frayed cable can jam. Our pros look at both on the yearly inspection and swap in the maker's replacement parts.

Ask about a top sealing damper

Our pros size your flue and look over the old damper for free. The damper line is (352) 675-6366.

Get a Free Inspection

Call the Gainesville chimney experts

(352) 675-6366

Inspection at no charge, price in writing before any work

Call (352) 675-6366