Why is my fireplace damper stuck open or closed?
In Brevard, the damper culprit is almost always water — Transylvania County catches 80-plus inches of rain a year, and that relentless moisture rusts throat-damper hinges solid, spalls the surrounding brick, and rots the crown that's supposed to keep the chimney dry. Dampers here seize from corrosion faster than almost anywhere we serve. Don't force a rusted plate.
Rainfall is the real damper killer here
Brevard's wet season runs March through June, and the crawl spaces and chimney chases around downtown and out toward the cabins stay damp long after. Water finds its way to the one place a damper can't afford it — the steel pivot just above the firebox — and turns a smooth-swinging plate into a rusted-shut lump. A cracked crown or a missing cap speeds it up by letting rain pour straight down the flue.
Cabins, propane, and idle fireplaces
A lot of Brevard sits in propane country, and many of the outlying cabins run gas log sets rather than open wood fires. On those, the damper is supposed to be clamped permanently open — if a cabin's been closed up for weeks and the plate has rusted toward shut, that's worth an inspection before anyone lights it. Sealed direct-vent gas units skip the problem entirely, venting through their own pipe.
Waterproofing beats wrestling
We free and service rusted dampers, but in this rainfall we usually look higher — a fresh crown, a stainless cap, and often a top-sealing damper that seals at the chimney top and keeps the weather out for good. We're about 40 minutes southwest, we pull the Transylvania County permit on gas lines, and we'll give you the straight repair-or-replace answer. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Why does cold air come out of my fireplace?
- How do I stop cold air from coming down my chimney?
- Why does my open wood-burning fireplace seem to make the room colder?
- Why does my fireplace smoke only when I first light it?
- Can birds or animals nesting in the chimney or vent cap keep my fireplace from working?