My DamDamper Broke

[Rookie1]

This morning I loaded woodburner and turned damper and nothing. Turned some more like an idiot and got the thing stuck closed. Had to pull smoldering wood out.Let cool off while at work. On way home stop at hardware and buy new. It killed me to let fire go out. Anyway how long do you guys get out of them. I got 2 seasons and the beginning of this one. Is that normal.

 

[WVwoodsman]

I had an indoor woodburner and used it for 2 years and never had a problem. I believe they are cast iron and therefore that makes them brittle, not to mention the extreme heat that they must endure.