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Rusty damper hinges versus new stainless ones in a 1910 row home
Had a job in a Philly row home last Tuesday. Old damper hinge was seized solid, took 45 minutes with penetrating oil and a pry bar to get it moving. Homeowner watched the whole thing. I swapped in stainless hinges, total time was maybe 8 minutes including adjustment. Same flue, same cap, same draft after the swap. He asked if it was really worth the extra $30. Told him the old ones will be dust in another year. Has anyone else seen that big a split on older installs?
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ben6627d ago
That 45 minutes with penetrating oil and a pry bar sounds about right, and its exactly why I stopped pretending I'm some kind of damper whisperer. Last winter I spent half an hour coaxing one loose and still ended up snapping the pin, so the homeowner paid for my time plus a new hinge anyway. Stainless going in with just an 8 minute swap is the kind of thing that makes you feel dumb for ever fighting the rusty ones. For $30 the guy basically bought himself a flue he wont have to think about for years.
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