Unpopular opinion: I saw a guy skip the damper check in a 1920s house in St. Louis and it changed my whole routine

I was helping a buddy on a big job last fall, a whole block of old brick homes. This other sweep, let's call him Dave, was working the house next door. I watched him finish up, pack his gear, and leave. He never even looked at the fireplace damper. An hour later, the homeowner flagged me down, smoke pouring from their living room window. The old cast iron damper was seized shut, completely rusted. Dave just assumed it worked. That was a $500 service call to cut it out and replace it. Now I physically test every single damper, no matter how new the house looks. I even carry a small mirror on a stick to check the throat. It takes two extra minutes but saves a world of trouble. How many of you actually check the damper mechanism, not just glance at it?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_west7d ago

Man, that story is a gut punch. You see that smoke and your heart just drops. Good on you for changing your whole routine because of it. That extra two minutes is nothing compared to the guilt and the mess. It's just basic respect for the homeowner and the job.

jackson.sage7d ago

My buddy learned that lesson with a melted spatula.