Chimney Care Company's Blog

Reasons to Invest in a Chimney Cap

One of the best places to invest in your chimney happens to sit on top, likely out of sight and out of mind. If you’re looking to protect your home and your chimney from serious and costly damage, you should invest in a chimney cap. Here’s why.

Protect your chimney from water damage

The No. 1 reason to invest in a chimney cap for your home is to protect your chimney and fireplace from water damage. Without a chimney cap in place, rain, sleet and snow all fall freely into your chimney. Water in your chimney can weaken chimney liners. It can cause cracks in masonry chimney liners and rust in metal ones. Water coming in through your chimney also can rust and damage your damper, fireplace doors, and fireplace grate. Water can damage your firebox’s masonry or metal components, as well. An investment in a chimney cap can save you from having to invest in repairing water damage to your fireplace and chimney.

Keep birds and animals out

An open chimney serves as an invitation to birds and animals seeking warmth and shelter from the elements. At a minimum, a cap-free chimney can result in a bird or bat flapping noisily around your chimney or finding its way into your home. On a more serious note, birds or animals can build nests in the chimney that block the chimney’s flue and pose fire hazards. Or, the animal itself can find its way into your home to cause damage and threaten you, your family or your pets. A chimney cap secured with a cage surround can prevent animals from entering your chimney and causing damage or other problems.

Block downdrafts

Sudden gusts of wind through your chimney can chill your home or cause ashes and embers to come bursting out of your fireplace. A chimney cap blocks downdrafts from chilling your home, forcing smoke from your fireplace back into your home or causing a spray of embers from your fireplace.

Stop debris from entering the chimney

When the wind blows, it’s not just drafts that can find their way into your chimney. Leaves, branches, and other debris can blow into your chimney. Once inside, the debris in your chimney can cause blockages that can combust and cause a fire hazard, or that can prevent smoke and carbon monoxide from exiting your home safely through your chimney. A chimney cap with a wire surround can block debris from entering your chimney.

If your chimney cap is missing or damaged, or it’s not made from a durable material like stainless steel or copper, it’s time to protect your chimney, your fireplace, and your home by investing in a chimney cap. Call the Chimney Care Co. to learn about your chimney cap options today!

Chimney caps: Is your chimney protected?

The top of your chimney opens to the outside, meaning it is fully exposed to all of the elements, debris and wandering animals. That is, unless your chimney is topped with a secure chimney cap in good repair.

About your chimney cap

Your chimney cap sits at the very top of your chimney. Usually attached by a metal cage, the chimney cap covers the opening of your chimney’s flue. Chimney caps come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from a variety of materials. Chimney caps serve a variety of functions.

Because they serve as a rooftop to your chimney, they prevent water from pouring down the walls of your flue and damaging your chimney liner, firebox, damper and chimney doors. Chimney caps play such a vital role in protecting your chimney system from water, the Chimney Safety Institute of America has dubbed them the cheapest and most effective way to protect your chimney from water damage.

Chimney caps also keep animals and debris out of your chimney. Without a chimney cap, leaves and branches can make their way into your flue, as can nesting animals or wayward birds. Blocked chimneys can cause many problems. They can force smoke and carbon monoxide back into your home. They can pose a fire risk. Animals that become trapped can cause an unpleasant smell and can require professional removal.

Chimney caps also can withstand high winds and help prevent strong bursts of wind from forcing their way down your chimney, chilling your home and potentially filling it with smoke. A chimney cap that is surrounded by fine wire mesh can help keep your rooftop safe. Without the mesh, burning embers can jump out of your flue and pose a fire hazard to your rooftop.

Determining whether you need a new chimney cap

Most chimney caps are made from copper or stainless steel. They are durable, and many come with lifetime warranties. Chimney caps can become disrupted or dislodged. Your chimney sweep should examine your chimney cap during your annual cleaning and inspection to make sure your chimney cap is free from any damage and firmly in place. You also may determine that you need a new chimney cap if you’ve noticed rust running down the sides of your chimney, or water or debris making its way into your flue.

If you need a new chimney cap, The Chimney Care Company can help. Our chimney experts can inspect your current chimney cap and chimney and provide you with your chimney cap options. We offer chimney caps in different metals, different sizes and different styles. You can choose a chimney cap that blends seamlessly into your chimney or one that adds style to your roofline. If you need a new chimney cap, or feel your chimney cap needs to be inspected, call us today!