Does Your Chimney Need a New Chase Top?
One of the greatest benefits of a prefabricated chimney system, particularly a gas-burning one, is the low maintenance factor. Often, homeowners forget that their easy-to-use prefabricated hearths require some regular care, and often the care these systems need is a new chimney chase cover. Neglecting your chase top can lead to serious problems for your chimney and your home. But what is a chimney chase top and how does it protect your chimney system? How do you know if your chimney requires a new chimney chase cover?
Your chimney chase top serves as a lid to your chimney system. It encloses the very top of your chimney, leaving room for individual flues to exit your home while providing a seal for the chimney. It keeps water, debris and animals from entering your home’s prefabricated chimney. If your chimney chase top is in decaying and in need of replacement, it can allow water, animals, and debris to enter your chimney, where they can cause serious damage over time. If your chimney chase top needs to be replaced, your chimney sweep should alert you during your annual chimney sweeping and inspection. Your chimney also might be sending you some signs that your chase cover needs to be replaced, such as:
Rust Stains
Most chimney chase covers are made of metal, or more specifically, steel. The first sign of breakdown for these metal chimney chase covers is usually rust. You might be able to spot rust forming on your chimney chase cover, or you might notice brownish-orange streaks or rust streaming down the sides of your chimney from the chase cover. While the rust itself isn’t a danger, rust means your chimney chase cover is breaking down. Eventually, your rusting chimney chase cover will form holes that can let water or animals access your chimney and cause damage.
Water Entering Your Home
Water enters your chimney through holes and cracks in the chase cover. You might notice water pooling on your fireplace floor, rust forming on your fireplace doors or grates, or water spots forming on your walls or ceiling. Address signs of water entering your home immediately, as they can cause major damage to your chimney and your home’s infrastructure.
Water Pooling on the Chase Cover
Some chase covers have been improperly constructed and for that reason alone need to be replaced. An improperly constructed chimney chase cover doesn’t do its job of diverting water away from the chimneys opening. Instead, it can allow water to flow back into your chimney flue or pool on top of the chase cover.
If you think you need a chimney chase cover replacement, don’t wait to call! A damaged or deteriorating chimney chase cover can lead to severe water damage. This can obviously cost you serious time and money in repairs in the future. If you need a new chimney chase cover, call the Chimney Care Co. to schedule your appointment today!