Damper stuck in Bolingbrook, IL
Most Bolingbrook homes are suburban houses and townhomes built from the 1970s through the 2000s, and a damper that will not open or will not close is a common problem in houses that age. It has almost certainly rusted. The usual cause is water getting down an uncapped flue and sitting on the metal plate and its hinges until they seize.
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Illinois winters are hard on chimneys. Freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven rain and snow, and a long heating season all take a toll. Humid summers then leave moisture in the flue, which speeds up rust. A damper is a moving part in a wet, sooty place, so it sticks.
While you wait — please don't
- Do not light a fire to test it. Never light a fire without confirming the damper is actually open, because a closed damper pushes smoke and carbon monoxide into the room.
- Do not force the handle. Forcing a rusted damper can break the frame and turn a small repair into masonry work.
- Stop using the fireplace if smoke came into the room. Leave it cold until a technician has looked at the damper and the flue.
- Get outside if you feel unwell. If anyone has a headache, dizziness or nausea after a fire, leave the house and call 911, then call us about the chimney.
What the technician does
- You call, we arrange the visitOne Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. We arrange an independent sweep or mason for your Bolingbrook address. We are not the contractor.
- The technician inspects firstThey look at the damper, the frame and the flue. You get a free estimate and the price before any work starts. Nothing begins until you approve it.
- Free it, clean it, re-seat itIf the damper can be saved, it is freed, cleaned and re-seated so it opens and closes properly. Worn handles, pivots and hardware are replaced.
- Replace it if it is beyond repairWhere the throat damper cannot be saved, a top-sealing damper can be fitted instead. Ask the technician to explain the reasoning in writing.
- Sweep the flue while it is openThe flue is swept while it is accessible, so you do not need a second visit for that.
- Fit a cap to stop the causeA chimney cap keeps out the water that rusted the damper. Without one, the new damper faces the same problem.
Why this happens in Bolingbrook, IL
Bolingbrook sits in Will County, with some homes close to DuPage County. Winter salt and deep frost wear on exterior fixtures here faster than in milder places. Chimneys feel it too. Illinois heating seasons run from about October into April, so a flue is used for months, and a damper that sticks in November can stay stuck until spring. A damper stuck open lets heat out of the house all winter. One stuck shut makes the fireplace unusable.
The suburban homes that make up most of Bolingbrook often have a factory-built metal fireplace or a masonry chimney, and Illinois homes commonly have both. Either can have a damper that has rusted open or shut. Repair demand here peaks in late fall and winter, when cold snaps arrive. Masonry repairs are usually done in warmer months, when mortar can cure without freezing. If your damper is stuck, calling before the first hard cold is easier than calling during it.
Questions people ask
- Why did my damper get stuck?
- Rust is the usual reason, and it usually starts with water coming down an uncapped flue. Illinois freeze-thaw cycles and humid summers make that worse. A cap fitted during the repair helps stop it happening again.
- My damper is stuck open in Bolingbrook. Is that urgent?
- It is not a fire risk if you leave the fireplace unused, but it lets heat escape through the winter. It also lets rain and snow into the flue. Do not light a fire until it has been looked at. Call (866) 576-7943 to arrange an inspection.
- Do I need a permit in Bolingbrook for damper work?
- Permits in Illinois are issued locally. They are commonly required for relining or rebuilding a chimney, but routine sweeping and basic inspection generally are not permitted work. Ask the Bolingbrook building department about your specific job before work begins.
- Which code applies to chimneys in Bolingbrook?
- Illinois has no single statewide code for this. Most municipalities and counties adopt editions of the International Residential Code and International Mechanical Code. The local building department can tell you which edition is in force.
- Does the estimate cost anything?
- No. Every job starts with a free estimate. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before work starts, and you approve it first.
One call
Call (866) 576-7943 and we will arrange a technician for your Bolingbrook home. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed with you before any work starts.
More from One Call Chimney
Something else in this area
- Smoke comes back into the room
- Never been swept
- Water coming in
- Something living up there
- Smells of smoke or damp
- Cracked crown or crumbling brick
- Liner damaged or missing
- Rebuild or new chimney
One Call Chimney arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.