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What Is a 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?
A chimney cap is an object that sits on top of the chimney crown, which is located on the very top of the chimney. Usually made of steel or copper mesh, a chimney cap forms a barrier between the elements and the inside of your chimney. Under the cap is the flue, which is the duct that allows smoke to leave the home. An uncapped chimney, though, can let rain, snow, critters, and debris enter your home.
Chimney caps are not, however, only important because of what they keep in but also what they keep out. Uncovered chimneys provide appealing nesting places for all sorts of small animals. Birds are the most common intruders, but it’s not uncommon to find squirrels and raccoons in open chimneys. Such nests are dangerous because any kind of chimney obstruction can cause a smoke build-up inside your home, and the waste from these animals can harbor disease. And, of course, living above a functional fireplace isn’t safe for the animals involved either. By capping your chimney, you’re protecting both your family and your furry neighbors.
An uncapped chimney is also much more likely to suffer weather damage. Without a chimney cap to block rain and snow, water can seep into the mortar joints of masonry chimneys and cause bricks to become loose. Water can even soak into the bricks themselves, resulting in cracking as the water freezes and expands. Excess moisture also promotes mold growth and is one of the most common causes of unpleasant chimney odors. If you have a metal chimney, exposure to moisture can create even more serious problems. Water can destroy insulation, cause rust, and ultimately shorten the life of your chimney.
Even if you don’t live in a particularly windy area, wind can still affect your chimney’s draft. Strong gusts can cause the draw of your fireplace or stove to fluctuate rather than remain at a continuous, steady rate. This can cause downdrafts, a serious problem where the smoke from your fire is blown back down your chimney. Installing a chimney cap can block some of the wind and help your chimney’s draft remain constant.
Why You Should Have a Chimney Cap
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.
Saves 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—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.
Prevents Fires
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.
Reduces Moisture
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.
Preserves Your Chimney Liner
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.
Different Types Of Chimney Caps
Some commonly used types of chimney caps are:
Top Mount Chimney Caps
Top mount chimney caps, also known as multi-flu
e chimney caps, are available in copper or stainless steel, with two different lid types, two different lid diameters, and four different screen heights. Top-mount caps are best suited for chimneys with flues that rise beyond the crown; therefore, consider this when choosing a cap for the chimney. They are suitable for both masonry and prefabricated chimneys.
Band-Around Brick Chimney Crown
Stainless steel or aluminum is often used in their construction. These chimney caps include an adjustable band that wraps around the chimney and a metal mesh skirt (which fits tightly around each corner of the flue). They are suitable for masonry chimneys. To achieve a proper fit, the band-around caps must be installed by a professional. This is one of the most innovative designs for a chimney cap or crown as it comes with a fan that can be adjusted to several settings to help provide a good draft for the fire.
Standard Chimney Crown
The standard chimney cap is the most common kind of chimney cap. They lay flush with the tile of the chimney flue and are screwed to the chimney. To keep things out, the cap is often fastened to the chimney’s interior in situations when the flue is lower. Standard caps have screens for animals and help catch big sparks that fly up from the fire and into the flue. The major benefit is it increases updraft in windy conditions.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
A chimney cap is an object that sits on top of the chimney crown, which is located on the very top of the chimney. Usually made of steel or copper mesh, a chimney cap forms a barrier between the elements and the inside of your chimney. Under the cap is the flue, which is the duct that allows smoke to leave the home. An uncapped chimney, though, can let rain, snow, critters, and debris enter your home.
