This cap could make all the difference for your fireplace
Chimney caps protect your home from debris and pests.
Stainless steel chimney caps are the most economical.
Before installing, choose the correct mesh and fastener.
It’s safest to have a pro install your chimney cap.
If you live in a house that creaks, you’ve probably had some moments of fear when you hear odd noises at night. Is it a person? A rodent? If you don’t have a chimney cap, this is a valid worry, since animals have a direct pathway through the chimney into your house. But what is a chimney cap and how does it protect your home? Read on to learn the ins and outs of this important part of a chimney system.
A chimney cap sits on top of the crown at the very top of the chimney and is meant to protect the flue underneath. It comes in a variety of styles and materials but is mainly made of steel or copper mesh. This part of a chimney forms a barrier between the elements and the inside of your home. Under the cap is the flue, which is the duct that allows smoke to leave the home. An uncapped chimney can let rain, snow, critters, and debris enter your home.
There are several benefits to investing in a chimney cap for your home. Below are some of the biggest reasons for installing a chimney cap.
When it gets chilly (or snowy), we love to get all warm and bundled up. If you don’t have a chimney cap, getting warm may be difficult. The reason for this is that when it’s cold and windy, downdrafts can affect your home’s temperature and your energy bills shoot up.
Not only are these cold gusts uncomfortable, but they also can cause smoke, ember, and ash to blow into your house and damage your home—which can lead to costly repairs. With a chimney cap, your home temperature will be more stable and in turn, your energy bills will decrease.
As mentioned above, chimney caps help control sparks and consequently prevent fires. This is a two-sided relationship: The chimney cap keeps embers from blowing down the chimney and also prevents embers from going up and out of the chimney onto the roof, which decreases the likelihood of having a roof fire.
When you have an uncapped chimney and it rains, the result is inevitably increased moisture in the house. Excess water in your chimney can also lead to issues such as damage to your chimney liners, dampers, and chimney mortar joints.
Moisture can also damage your walls and ceiling. Plus, it can lead to mold and mildew growth which can spread to your home and be a health hazard. By installing a chimney cap, you’ll prevent structural water damage that would likely result in moisture damage and costly repairs later.
Sure, some of the neighborhood critters can be cute, but it’s all fun and games until you find a raccoon or squirrel in your chimney. Although you might question whether animals would be attracted to the billowing smoke of a chimney—the dark, warm environment majorly appeals to critters.
When animals make their way into the chimney, they can get stuck and cause clogging and foul odors. Installing a cap can help you prevent animals from getting in your chimney, and in turn, save you from cleaning costs.
A chimney typically has a lining that is either clay, ceramic, or metal, and its purpose is to protect the chimney walls and keep smoke and debris at bay. Chimney liners limit the amount of heat transfer within the chimney, ultimately preventing fire hazards.
A chimney cap will help maintain your chimney liner by reducing the amount of debris and excess water that passes through the chimney. Consequently, this preserves your chimney’s performance quality and is more cost-effective than repairing a damaged chimney liner.
With all the different types of chimneys out there, it’s no wonder that you’ll also find different kinds of chimney caps on the market. Chimney caps generally come in four types of materials:
Galvanized steel
Stainless steel
Copper
Aluminum
Galvanized steel chimney caps are one of the most affordable options on the market, but they’re also not very durable. This material is susceptible to corrosion and may need to be replaced just a few years down the line.
The first thing that may come to mind when you see an aluminum chimney cap is its rustic appearance. Aluminum chimney caps are more resistant to corrosion and soot build-up than galvanized steel chimney caps, and they’re in a similar price range. Where these caps fall short, however, is in their flimsiness. Aluminum is far more likely to bend and warp compared to galvanized steel.
If you want a long-lasting, economical chimney cap, then stainless steel chimney caps are your best option. Stainless steel is stronger than aluminum and galvanized steel, and it is also corrosion-resistant. This makes it the best choice for homes at risk of extreme wind, rain, or snow.
For the most aesthetically pleasing chimney cap on the block, copper chimney caps don’t fall short. These caps provide a stylish look that’s also durable, corrosion-resistant, and even stronger than stainless steel. The main downsides are that they’re the most expensive option, and you’ll have to regularly clean the chimney cap if you want to maintain its natural color.
As tempting as it may be to buy a chimney cap at a local hardware store and install it ASAP, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before you make your purchase and install it. Here are some tips to consider before you install a chimney cap.
Most chimney caps have mesh that wraps around the perimeter of the cap to prevent debris and animals from entering your home through the chimney. The mesh also keeps embers from escaping through the chimney on the off chance that there’s a chimney fire.
Homes that experience freezing temperatures and snow should avoid mesh screens smaller than 5/8 inch, as ice and snow can prevent proper ventilation. On the other hand, you’ll want to avoid mesh that’s larger than 3/4 inch, as embers can come out of the chimney and pose a fire risk.
While most chimneys use a standard chimney cap and only require you to know the shape of your chimney’s flue, you might have additional circumstances worth keeping in mind as you choose a chimney cap. Here are a few of the most common specialty chimney caps:
If you live somewhere with high winds, you might need a special draft-increasing chimney cap. This cap prevents the wind from creating static pressure that keeps the smoke from properly leaving the chimney. The increased ventilation allows your chimney to have a better updraft.
In some cases, you might need to upgrade to an electric chimney cap for reducing drafts. These caps come with an electric fan that you can adjust to configure the best draft for your chimney. This technology, however, adds to the cost of your chimney cap and may need a professional for the installation.
Older chimneys that need an upgrade to the chimney damper—which keeps the air in your home from coming out through the flue when it’s not in use—can benefit from a chimney cap and damper combination. This combo works just like a regular chimney cap, only it contains a lever-controlled damper that sits on the top of the chimney’s flue.
Fireplaces prone to smoke entering the living space when in use may need a longer flue to prevent downdrafts. If you have routine chimney sweep inspections but still experience smokey interiors, you might want to raise your flue’s height with a chimney flue stretcher. A flue stretcher contains a chimney cap at the top and elevates the height of your flue by as much as one to two feet.
Also called an outside-mount chimney cap, these caps cover the crown of the chimney and are often used for multi-flue chimneys. Since they have a mounting system that attaches to the chimney’s body, this makes multi-flue chimney caps ideal for chimneys with unusually-shaped flues or damaged crowns. They’re also a good option for dual or triple flues, as you can fit the cap over the entirety of your chimney.
The type of chimney you have determines how you can secure the chimney cap to your chimney. For example, if you have a round-shaped flue, you can use clamps, screws, or a slip-in cap that simply slides into the opening of your flue. You’ll need to fasten the chimney cap on a square, oval, or rectangular flue with clamps or screws, but you can’t use a slip-in cap for these shapes.
If you have a metal chimney that has double or triple walls and is air-insulated or solid-packed, you’ll need a special chimney cap to accommodate the two walls that make up the chimney.
Installing or replacing a chimney cap requires comfort with getting on the roof of your house and practicing proper ladder safety. Additionally, improper installation could put your entire chimney at risk of water damage, pests, and ventilation issues. Because of this, many homeowners prefer to hire a professional to install a chimney cap.
The cost install a chimney cap is around $300 on average. Chimney repair pros know the ins and outs of correctly installing a chimney cap, helping you reap the most benefits of a chimney cap. One thing to keep in mind—if you don’t have a chimney cap, your pro may recommend a chimney sweep as well to clear out any dust and debris that has collected in the flue. A chimney sweep costs on average around $300 to $400.
Ordinarily, chimney repair and improvement projects are best left to the pros, but chimney cap installation is a rare exception. This intermediate-level DIY project may not be exceptionally difficult, but it does require working on the roof, so it can be dangerous. Be sure to have a partner ready to steady your ladder, and always wear a safety harness and non-skid shoes.
If you don’t have much home improvement experience, feel even remotely uncomfortable working on a rooftop, or do not have the proper safety equipment, you should hire a pro for this project. Also, hire a contractor if your roof is too steep or the chimney is in an area where you do not have sufficient space to safely maneuver around. A local chimney cap installation pro will have the knowledge and equipment required to do the job safely, quickly, and correctly the first time.
A chimney requires both a cover and a cap, but these parts often get confused with one another. A chimney cover seals the top of the chimney around the flue pipe to prevent water from entering the chimney. A chimney cap is a piece that sits above the flue to prevent animals, debris, and water from entering the flue.
The main problem with chimney caps is that they contain very small openings that can become clogged with creosote, soot, ash, debris, snow, or ice. When the cap becomes too clogged, it can prevent smoke from safely escaping the chimney, which can result in toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide entering your home. This will also cause more creosote to build up in the chimney, creating a fire risk in your home. Additionally, these blockages can reduce oxygen flow in the fireplace, making it more difficult to start or maintain a fire.
Yes, capped chimneys should still be vented. Failing to vent a chimney will result in condensation buildup inside the chimney, which commonly results in mold growth. If mold begins to grow in a chimney, it frequently goes undetected and spreads quickly through the home. Mold and moisture can damage the structural integrity of your home, and exposure to mold can cause discomfort and illness in residents.
Sometimes chimney caps blow off during storms or fall off after rusting away. While this typically won’t cause structural damage, failing to replace a chimney cap can. A chimney cap prevents moisture, animals, and debris from entering your chimney, all of which can cause serious problems, such as damage to the masonry or blockages in the flue.
