A chimney sweep can install this important chimney part
Hats off to your chimney cap: It helps contain fireplace embers, reduces the amount of moisture that gets in your chimney, improves energy efficiency, and keeps animals from getting into your home through the chimney. If you don’t have a chimney cap or your current cap isn’t in working order, you’ll want to know who installs chimney caps near you. Here’s a complete guide on who to call to get the job done.
Hiring a chimney sweep to install your chimney cap is the best way to ensure the job gets done right the first time. Chimney sweeps have extensive experience with all aspects of a chimney, which can be dangerous to work on if you don’t know what you’re doing. While it might seem like an easy job to add a cap to your chimney, there are actually quite a few things that can go wrong if it’s not installed correctly. All in all, a chimney cap is going to help maintain the integrity of your chimney, so you want to make sure you’re hiring someone who knows what they’re doing to make sure you can enjoy your fireplace for years to come.
While a chimney sweep is typically the person you’ll want to install your chimney cap, hiring a local handyperson who knows their stuff can also be a good option for installing a chimney cap. If you’re going with a handyperson, it’s important to gauge their experience with this kind of project, as it does require some know-how. A few questions to ask include:
Do you feel comfortable working on the roof?
Have you installed chimney caps before?
Are you familiar with all types of chimneys?
How will you assess if my chimney needs further repair?
Ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable hiring someone to do a job, you should go with your gut and not hire them.
Installing a chimney cap yourself can come with a certain amount of risk if you’re not familiar with the process. You’ll have to be comfortable on a roof, so ladder safety is paramount—not to mention having a second person to spot you (and be an extra set of hands). You’ll also have to make sure you’re installing the right kind of chimney cap onto your chimney, which is determined by your chimney flue.
But, if you’re a handy homeowner who feels comfortable working on your roof, DIYing your chimney cap installation can save you a few bucks. The average cost for the materials is between $100 to $200 as opposed to the cost of a pro, which is $300. If you’re not comfortable or don’t know what you’re doing, spending the extra money on a local chimney cap professional will save you the headache and make sure the job is done right.
The first step in installing a chimney cap is measuring the opening of your chimney, as this will determine the type of chimney cap you’ll need. Then, depending on whether or not you have a single-flue or multi-flue chimney, they’ll get the appropriate cap to match.
Once they’ve got their parts, your professional will most likely clean the area where the chimney cap will be installed. This will ensure that the new cap will fit in place and isn’t trapping any debris underneath. The actual technique used to install the chimney cap will differ depending on if you have a single-flue, round, or multi-flue chimney.
