Fireplace & damper repair pricing

How Much Does Fireplace & Damper Repair Cost?

At Brown Chimney, damper repair costs $300–$1,250, and a top-mount cap damper costs $1,350–$1,450. Firebox crack repair starts at $250, while firebox panel replacement costs $750–$3,300.
The price depends on whether the part can be repaired or has to be replaced. Your final price is confirmed on site before work begins.

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1-Year

Workmanship Warranty

Here's How We Price Fireplace and Damper Repair

The damper, the firebox and the doors are the parts of the fireplace you see and use every day. Each repair has its own price in our price book, so the number depends on the part and on whether it can be repaired or has to be replaced.

Brown Chimney's fireplace and damper repair prices, in U.S. dollars:

Damper repair: $300, $600 or $1,250. $300 to free up, adjust and lubricate a sticking damper, $600 to replace the plate or handle, and $1,250 to replace the full throat damper assembly. The damper is tested after the work.
Top-mount cap damper: $1,350 for a 13x13 flue, $1,450 for a 9x13 flue. Seals the top of the chimney with a gasket, with a pull cable, handle and cleat at the firebox. The existing throat damper stays in place.
Firebox crack and joint repair: $250–$550. Cracks, gaps and worn joints repaired with high-heat mortar or sealant. Added to another service, it costs $150–$550.
Firebox panel replacement: $750–$3,300. $950 for the back panel, $750 per side panel, $850 for the bottom panel, or $3,300 for the full set.
Glass fireplace doors: $3,000 standard, $5,500 custom. Standard doors include a door allowance up to $1,250; custom Stoll Industries doors include up to $3,500.
Ash cleanout door replacement: $650. The old door is removed and a new cast iron or steel door installed and sealed with mortar. Firebox and fireplace painting with high-heat paint costs $450.

These are alternative repairs selected on site, not charges added together. If the throat damper cannot be repaired, a top-mount cap damper is quoted instead, and a firebox with widespread damage is quoted for a rebuild.

Painting and firebox crack repair can be added to another repair, as priced in the calculator below.

For how the two kinds of damper work, read our guide to types of fireplace dampers.

What drives the price

What Changes the Cost of Fireplace and Damper Repair?

Repair or Replace

Assessed on site

A sticking damper can often be freed up and adjusted. A warped plate, a broken handle or a rusted-out assembly has to be replaced. Small firebox cracks can be sealed, while broken panels are replaced.

Throat Damper or Cap Damper

Two ways to close the flue

A throat damper sits just above the firebox. A top-mount cap damper seals the top of the chimney instead and is the fix when the old damper can no longer close. Its price depends on the flue size.

Your Fireplace Model and Opening

Confirmed before ordering

Firebox panels are ordered for your model once it is confirmed at booking, and glass doors are made to your fireplace opening. Custom doors are measured on a first visit and installed on a second.

Allowances and Hidden Damage

Approved before extra work

Door prices include an allowance, and the difference is added if your doors cost more. If more damage is found once work begins, it is documented and approved by you first. To have the firebox, damper and smoke chamber checked before deciding, see our chimney inspection costs.

What you get

What's Included in Your Fireplace or Damper Repair?

Every repair covers the part of the fireplace named in your quote. Our chimney repair service covers the masonry and crown work outside the firebox.

For a damper repair, the throat damper is diagnosed, repaired or replaced, and tested after the work.

For a cap damper, a top-mount damper with a tight gasket seal is installed with the pull cable, handle and cleat at the firebox, then tested and demonstrated.

For firebox work, cracks and joints are repaired with high-heat mortar or sealant, or damaged panels are replaced with manufacturer or approved-compatible panels.

Our 1-Year Workmanship Warranty covers the labor on the repair, and parts carry the manufacturer's warranty. Anything found beyond the quoted problem is explained and approved before extra work starts.

Repair or replacement matched to the part's condition

Damper tested after every repair

Gasket-sealed cap damper with pull cable and handle

High-heat mortar or sealant for firebox cracks

Manufacturer or approved-compatible firebox panels

Approval before additional work changes the scope

One-year workmanship warranty on our labor

Damper won't seal? Read how a chimney damper works.

Santa Claus and a reindeer peeking over a snow-dusted brick chimney at night

FAQ

Common Questions About Fireplace and Damper Repair Costs

How much does fireplace damper repair cost?

Brown Chimney charges $300 to free up, adjust and lubricate a sticking damper, $600 to replace the plate or handle, and $1,250 to replace the full throat damper assembly. A top-mount cap damper costs $1,350 for a 13x13 flue and $1,450 for a 9x13 flue.

Should I repair my throat damper or install a cap damper?

If the throat damper can be freed up or fitted with a new plate or handle, repair is the lower-cost option. If it cannot be repaired, a top-mount cap damper is quoted instead. It seals the top of the chimney, where the heat loss actually happens, and the existing throat damper stays in place. Our guide to types of fireplace dampers compares the two.

How much does firebox repair cost?

Cracks, gaps and worn joints repaired with high-heat mortar or sealant cost $250–$550 on their own, or $150–$550 when added to another service. Replacement panels cost $950 for the back, $750 per side and $850 for the bottom, or $3,300 for the full set. Widespread firebox damage is quoted separately for a rebuild.
If the damage goes past the firebox, our chimney rebuild cost guide covers masonry rebuilds.

How much do glass fireplace doors cost?

Standard glass fireplace doors cost $3,000 installed, with a door allowance up to $1,250. Custom doors by Stoll Industries cost $5,500, with an allowance up to $3,500, and are measured on a first visit and installed on a second. If the doors you choose cost more than the allowance, the difference is added.

Is fireplace and damper repair covered by a warranty?

Our 1-Year Workmanship Warranty covers the labor on repairs and installations: if a defect in our labor shows up within one year of completion, we come back and fix it at no charge. Doors, dampers and panels carry the manufacturer's warranty. The warranty does not cover damage from use, weather or other trades, or pre-existing conditions.

How much does a fireplace surround, mantel or hearth cost?

A new tile, stone, brick or marble surround costs $4,000–$9,000, a mantel $3,000–$6,000 and a hearth extension $2,500–$5,000, each with a material allowance. Scope and materials are confirmed in writing before work begins. Planning a new fireplace? Explore our fireplace installation costs.