Pro tip: always check the damper before you start

I was cleaning a flue in a 1920s house in Portland and the homeowner swore it was open. My brush got stuck hard about three feet in because the damper was actually rusted shut. Had to use a mirror and a long pry bar to work it loose before I could finish the job. Anyone have a better way to check a sticky damper without crawling all the way up there?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellys7827d ago

Mirrors are a good start but a cheap borescope camera can save you a ton of time. You can get one that connects to your phone and actually see if the damper is moving freely. It beats guessing and then having to go back up with tools.

uma_ellis27d ago

My cheap borescope found a stuck damper rod in five minutes flat.

milacraig26d ago

Honestly thought those little cameras were just a gimmick for a long time. Watched a guy use one to spot a cracked tile in a chimney liner I would have totally missed. Changed my whole view on checking things you can't easily see. Now it feels like working blind without one.