Why won't my damper open in Aurora?

Rust is the usual reason. Water gets down an uncapped flue and the damper plate or its pivots seize. Aurora's freeze-thaw winters and humid summers keep that moisture coming.

Can I just hit it or pull harder on the handle?

No. A rusted frame can break, and then it is a masonry repair instead of a damper repair. Leave it and have the technician look at it.

My damper is stuck open. Is that really a problem?

Yes. It lets heat out of your Aurora home all winter, and it lets rain and snow into the firebox. A top-sealing damper is one option if the old one cannot be saved.

Does the work need a permit in Aurora?

Permits in Illinois are issued locally, so ask the building department which rules apply. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly needs one. The technician can tell you whether your job goes beyond a damper repair.

Who does the work, and is the estimate really free?

One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, and they do the work. The estimate is free, and you approve the price before anything starts.

Damper stuck in Aurora, IL

Aurora is a city of century-old brick and frame homes, from Downtown Aurora out through the older east and west sides, and many of them still have a masonry chimney with its original damper. If yours will not open, or will not close, it has almost certainly rusted. Water has come down the flue, and the metal plate, the handle or the pivots have seized.

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Rust from an uncapped flue is the usual cause here. The heating season in Illinois runs from about October into April, and wind-driven rain and snow get in at the crown, the flashing and the cap. Humid summers then keep moisture in the masonry. A damper that sits in that season after season stops moving.

While you wait — please don't

Do not light a fire until you have seen the damper open. Smoke and carbon monoxide go into the house if the flue is shut, so look up and confirm it is open first.
Do not force a rusted damper. Forcing it can break the frame and turn a damper job into masonry work.
Stop using the fireplace if smoke comes into the room. If anyone has a headache, feels dizzy or sick, get outside and call 911.
Do not leave a stuck-open damper all winter. An open damper sends the heat you pay for straight up the flue for the whole cold season.

What the technician does

Inspect first, price firstThe technician looks at the damper and the flue, then gives you the price. Nothing starts until you approve it.
Free, clean and re-seat the damperWhere the damper can be saved, it is freed, cleaned and set back so it opens fully and closes properly.
Replace worn partsHandles, pivots and other hardware are replaced when they are rusted or worn out.
Fit a top-sealing damper if neededIf the throat damper is beyond repair, a top-sealing damper can be fitted in its place.
Sweep the flue while it is open to reachWith the damper accessible, the flue gets swept at the same visit.
Fit a capA cap keeps out the water that rusted the damper, so the new one is not left to the same fate.

Why this happens in Aurora, IL

The housing around the Fox River and the historic districts includes a dense stock of century-old brick homes with masonry chimneys and fireplaces. Those chimneys were built long before anyone thought about a tight-sealing damper. If the flue has gone without a cap, the damper at the bottom takes the water.

The weather in Aurora adds to it. Freeze-thaw cycles, deep frost and ice dams are hard on masonry chimneys, and spring storms bring hail and driving rain from April through June. Many homeowners notice a stuck damper in late fall, when they get ready for the first hard freeze. If that is you, now is a good time to get it looked at before the first fire.

Questions people ask

Why won't my damper open in Aurora?: Rust is the usual reason. Water gets down an uncapped flue and the damper plate or its pivots seize. Aurora's freeze-thaw winters and humid summers keep that moisture coming.
Can I just hit it or pull harder on the handle?: No. A rusted frame can break, and then it is a masonry repair instead of a damper repair. Leave it and have the technician look at it.
My damper is stuck open. Is that really a problem?: Yes. It lets heat out of your Aurora home all winter, and it lets rain and snow into the firebox. A top-sealing damper is one option if the old one cannot be saved.
Does the work need a permit in Aurora?: Permits in Illinois are issued locally, so ask the building department which rules apply. Relining or rebuilding a chimney commonly needs one. The technician can tell you whether your job goes beyond a damper repair.
Who does the work, and is the estimate really free?: One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange the job with an independent sweep or mason, and they do the work. The estimate is free, and you approve the price before anything starts.

One call

Call One Call Chimney at (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange an independent technician for your Aurora chimney. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work begins.

Call now · (866) 576-7943

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One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.