A damper is the movable metal plate inside a fireplace, usually just above the firebox or higher up in the flue, that opens to let smoke draft out during a fire and closes to seal the flue when it isn't in use.
Traditional throat dampers sit right above the firebox and smoke chamber, while top-mount dampers sit at the very top of the flue near the cap. Either way, closing the damper when there's no fire going keeps conditioned air from escaping straight up the chimney and stops rain from running down into the firebox. A damper that's rusted open or stuck shut usually means moisture has been getting to it for a while.
Masonry work and damper hardware are two different trades, so on a chimney rebuild we coordinate with whoever services the damper itself rather than replacing it ourselves. What we do handle is everything the damper sits inside of: the smoke chamber, the firebox, and the flue it seals against, along with rebuilding the masonry damper seat if it's cracked or out of shape. A damper that can't seal tightly against a damaged seat wastes heat and lets weather in no matter how new the hardware itself is.
More masonry vocabulary from the glossary.
The services where this term comes up.
Chelo's Brick & Stone serves Hillsville, Galax, Wytheville, Fancy Gap, and Independence, VA. Call for a straight answer and a free on-site estimate.
