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A chimney cap is a covering for the top of a chimney. Its purpose is to prevent animals from entering and debris from collecting in the flue. When a chimney cap becomes damaged, it needs to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.   A chimney cap is a protective chimney cover that prevents rain, leaves, and other debris from falling into the flue.  The right type of chimney cap can make a huge difference in your home’s air quality by preventing dangerous gasses from entering the house.

What is a Chimney Cap?

A chimney cap is a small piece of metal, wood or another material that fits over the top opening of your masonry stove’s flue.  It helps protect it from weather elements and critters like birds, squirrels and other animals who would love to make their home in your fireplace!

A chimney has three main parts: the flue, the lining and the cap.  The flue is the part of the chimney that goes up through your roof. The lining is a material that lines the inside of the flue and protects it from heat and corrosion. The cap is the last line of defense against water and pests getting into your chimney.

A chimney cap is a cover that sits on top of the chimney stack to prevent rain and animals from entering the flue.  It also helps to keep out debris, like leaves and sticks, which can create a fire hazard.  A chimney cap typically sits right on top of the chimney crown, which is located on the top of the chimney.  Under the cap is the flue, which is the pipe/duct that allows smoke to leave the home.  An uncapped chimney, though, can let rain and precipitation flow into your home.  Usually made of steel or copper mesh, chimney caps are protectors of the chimney and entire house—installing a chimney cap is a smart way to help maintain your chimney and home.

Why You Should Repair Your Chimney Cap?

Generally, chimney caps are built to protect the fireplace so that it can be used for years.  It is easy to install and will not take too much time or money.  However, there are certain problems that occur with these parts over an extended period of use which might require you to buy a replacement part.

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, essentially, a direct pathway through the chimney into your house.  A chimney cap eliminates this problem, preventing not only critters, but debris and hazardous material from entering your home.

Below we’ve listed some of the major reasons for installing a chimney cap.

1. Save Money

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.  With a chimney cap, your home temperature will be more stable and in turn, your energy bills will decrease.

2. Prevent Fires

Chimney caps help control sparks and consequently prevent fires.  This is a two-sided relationship:  The chimney cap keeps embers from coming into the chimney, but also prevents embers from going up and out of the chimney onto the roof, which decreases the likelihood of having a roof fire.

3. Reduce Moisture

When you have an uncapped chimney and rain, 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.

4. Keep Animals Out

Sure, some of the neighborhood critters can be cute, but it’s all fun and games until you find a raccoon or baby bird in your chimney.  Although you might question whether animals would be attracted to the chimney, out of which gusts of smoke shoot, the dark, warm environment majorly appeals to critters.

When animals make their way into the chimney, they can get stuck and cause extreme clogging and bad odors.  Installing a cap can help you prevent animals from getting in yoiur chimney, and in turn, save you from cleaning costs.

5. Preserve Your Chimney Liner

A chimney typically has a lining that is either clay, ceramic, or metal, and its purpose is protecting the chimney walls and containing smoke and debris.  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.