Established subdivisions such as Alafaya Woods and Twin Rivers have many 1990s factory-built fireplaces in framed chases. Here’s how that shapes fireplace repair.
What fireplace repair covers
| Part | Common repair | In depth |
|---|---|---|
| Masonry firebox | Cracked firebrick replaced, joints repointed with refractory mortar | repairing a cracked firebox |
| Refractory panels (factory-built) | Cracked or crumbling panels replaced with the maker’s parts | replacing cracked refractory panels |
| Damper | Freed, repaired or replaced; top-sealing dampers as an option | fixing a stuck or broken damper |
| Smoke chamber | Rough or crumbling walls parged smooth | parging a rough smoke chamber |
| Doors and glass | Glass, gaskets, hinges or listed door sets | replacing cracked fireplace glass |
What Oviedo fireplaces usually need
Rusty, sooty residue at the top of a factory-built firebox is a repair clue: the panels and damper may be repairable, but the water source at the top has to be fixed first.
Why fireplaces smoke into the room
Smoke spills into the room when the draft can’t carry it away: a damper that isn’t fully open, a rough or damaged smoke chamber, a blocked or dirty flue, an opening too large for the flue, or a house that pulls air down the chimney. Each has a different fix, so the cause is found first; see what causes a smoky fireplace.
A draft coming into the room when the fireplace is off is related: usually a damper that no longer seals; see drafts through a closed fireplace.
Inspect before deciding the scope
A cracked firebox can be a small repair or a sign of a bigger problem above it: water coming down a damaged flue, or heat damage from a chimney fire. When the cause isn’t obvious, an inspection first looks at the fireplace and the chimney together before a repair is chosen.
On a worn factory-built unit, the same look decides between repair and a new listed unit.
Gas and electric fireplaces
This page covers wood-burning and factory-built fireplaces. Gas fireplaces that won’t light or stay lit are covered by repairs for gas fireplaces, and routine upkeep by a gas fireplace tune-up. Electric fireplaces are electrical and control work: see the electric fireplace service. Gas piping is quoted as separate, permitted work.
Fireplace repair around Oviedo
- Anywhere in Oviedo, including Twin Rivers: say whether it’s brick or factory-built, wood or gas
- Want the chimney checked too? the yearly inspection
- Nearby: Winter Springs fireplace service, firebox and damper repair in Casselberry and repairs for Winter Park fireplaces
- Other work on the house: chimney and fireplace services in Oviedo
Depending on the fireplace, see also wood fireplace repair in depth.
For the full background, see the complete guide to fireplace repair and the two kinds of fireplace.
References (3)
Figures for Oviedo and the references used on this page.