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Showerthought: A chimney in a 1920s house in Boise taught me to always check the damper first
I was halfway through a standard cleaning, covered in soot, when I realized the flue was completely blocked by a rusted damper that had been sealed shut for maybe 50 years. Now I give the damper a full open-close test before I even unroll my drop cloths. Anyone else run into a surprise like that hidden behind years of creosote?
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seanlee1mo ago
That bird's nest story is wild. Did you have to take the whole damper assembly apart to clear it out, or were you able to pull it through from below? I'm trying to picture how packed in there it had to be to block everything.
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chen.casey1mo ago
Oh man, @seanlee, I had to take the WHOLE thing apart like a total rookie. It was packed so tight I thought I was digging out a fossil. I definitely learned that lesson the hard way.
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avery_lopez1mo ago
That "rusted damper sealed shut for maybe 50 years" line really hit home. I had a similar thing happen with an old fireplace that looked fine until I found a bird's nest packed solid behind the damper plate. It's amazing what you find when things have been left alone for decades. Your new rule of testing it first is the only way to go, saves so much time and mess.
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