Fireplace Throat Damper Stuck

First repair steps first brush the damper giving special attention to the hinges.

Fireplace throat damper stuck.

Remove all ashes from the firebox. Throat dampers are very common with older masonry fireplaces and while they can last through many years of use they do have some drawbacks. Corrosion and debris are the most common causes of stuck fireplace dampers. Your chimney professional will sweep the flue and remove the soot and debris that is piled up around the fireplace damper.

More often than not if pristine sweeps is called in to repair a stuck or damaged damper it s what is known as a throat damper which is installed above the firebox at your chimney s throat. The damper is a steel or cast iron door that opens and closes the throat of the firebox into the flue. Take a steel brush or a handheld whisk broom and clean the damper and the area around it. If the prior two steps don t cure the stuck damper handle tap the handle with a sledge hammer.

A good first step is to have the fireplace professionally cleaned. If the step above doesn t work you will need to clean the track that the handle runs in and the point where it is. Step 3 removing the damper. One of the most pervasive causes of a stuck damper is rust often caused when rainwater enters the chimney through a faulty or nonexistent chimney cap.

Often a damper becomes difficult to operate or sticks in one position.