Fireplace Repair in Fargo, ND

Signs your fireplace needs repair

Cracked, loose or missing firebrick
Mortar between the firebricks falling out
A damper that will not open, close or seal
Smoke spilling into the room instead of going up
A cold draft coming down when the damper is closed
Rust or white deposits inside the firebox

The firebox

Firebrick lines the firebox because it can take the heat. Hairline cracks are common and often cosmetic. Wide gaps, missing bricks or lost mortar can expose the wall behind the firebox to heat, so they need repair before more fires. Firebrick is bonded with refractory mortar, not ordinary mortar.

The damper

A damper that will not close lets heated air escape up the chimney. One that will not open lets smoke into the room. Many dampers can be repaired or replaced. A top-sealing damper sits at the top of the flue and seals better than the old throat damper.

Smoke spilling into the room

Poor draft has several causes: a cold flue, a blocked flue, a cap or liner problem, or a house sealed so tightly the fireplace cannot pull air. A pro can check the flue and the room.

Gas fireplaces and inserts

Gas logs, inserts and fireplaces involve gas lines and controls. That work belongs to a licensed gas fitter or an HVAC technician, not a mason. Tell us it is a gas appliance when you request a quote. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or your gas utility.

When to stop using it

If the firebox has wide gaps or missing brick, if smoke enters the room, or if you smell smoke when the fireplace is cold, stop using it until a pro has looked.

Chimney details, up close

A brick chimney seen from an attic with crumbling mortar, loose bricks and orange brick dust at its base — Spalling brick and failed mortar inside an attic chimney. Photo: Beltedweir.

Two chimney stacks on a slate roof, one stone and one brick, each topped with a clay chimney pot — Two chimney stacks with clay pots (Horbury, England). Photo: Tim Green.

An 18th-century etching of a young chimney sweep in a hat and long coat holding a scraper — Chimney sweep, etching after Edme Bouchardon, 18th century. Photo: François Joullain, after Edme Bouchardon.

A tall red brick chimney on a roof with lead flashing peeling away from its lower corner

Brick chimney with lifting flashing (Mettmann, Germany). Photo credit: KaiKemmann.

Common questions

SafetyIs a cracked firebrick dangerous?

Narrow hairline cracks are common and usually fine. Wide cracks, loose bricks or gaps in the mortar can let heat through to the framing behind. Have a pro look before you use it again.

SmokeWhy does my fireplace smoke?

Common causes are a cold flue, a blocked or damaged flue, a missing or clogged cap, a damper that is not fully open, or a house that is sealed too tightly to supply air. Cracking a window can show whether air supply is the problem.

DIYCan I replace a fireplace damper myself?

Homeowners sometimes replace a damper handle or clamp. Replacing the damper itself means working in the throat of the fireplace and often at the roof, so most people hire it out.

CostHow much does fireplace repair cost?

The cost guides we checked do not give a reliable national range, because fireplace repair covers everything from a damper handle to a rebuilt firebox. Ask for an itemized quote. For the chimney above the fireplace, see our cost guide.

Keep reading

Last updated October 26, 2026.

Free chimney quote

Tell us what is wrong and where you are. A local pro takes it from there. It costs you nothing.

Fireplace repair in Fargo

Request a free quote