Chimney caps - one of the most essential parts of any chimney system. The name itself is pretty self-explanatory, as it serves as a cap to your chimney, but its importance is not to be looked over! It's one of the most important pieces when it comes to protecting your chimney from the elements and dangerous roof fires. The last thing you'll want to do is spend so much time ensuring your chimney is up to par and clean, only for the lack of a chimney cap to cause unneeded wear and tear - which could lead to a hefty (and unnecessary) investment to fix it back up.
In this blog post, we'll go over everything you need to know about chimney caps, why they're essential to any chimney system, and why (if you haven't already) you should have a chimney cap added.
What You Need to Know About Chimney Caps
So, what exactly is the purpose of a chimney cap? Every chimney has a flue system - which is a fancy way of saying that there's a pipe or duct in your chimney that safely vents out smoke and chemicals. A chimney cap sits directly above the chimney crown or chase cover. A chimney crown is much like a chimney cap in itself, protecting your chimney from the elements, but covers the top of your chimney with concrete. However, naturally, your flue system must remain uncovered by the crown to safely vent out smoke and chemicals, so covering that with concrete would not be very ideal.
That's where a chimney cap comes in. It does essentially the same thing as the crown but is specially crafted for your chimney's flue system, allowing smoke and chemicals to still safely get vented out while also protecting your chimney from the elements.
Why Are They Essential?
There are plenty of reasons why a chimney cap is essential - we'll break down each of the top reasons here:
Reduces the Risk of Roof Fires
The last thing you want happening to your roof is it catching fire. Alongside chemicals and hot smoke, the lack of a chimney cap means that sparks can commonly fly up and out of your chimney and onto your roof. Naturally, this greatly increases the risk of those sparks igniting on your roof and causing serious damage. Keeping your home warm should be a priority in the wintertime, but it should never come at the cost of safety.
Protects Your Flue System From the Elements
When a chimney isn't protected by a cap, this allows the elements to enter your chimney's flue system and, over time, cause deterioration. Weather such as rain, snow, and hail are much more susceptible to entering your chimney without a cap. Even days with moderate to heavy wind can cause deterioration and damage to your chimney's flue system if no cap is present, as debris can drift into your chimney and increase the risk of buildup.
Eliminates the Risk of Replacing a Damaged Flue Liner
A chimney's flue system is one of the most important parts of any chimney as it safely lines your chimney with a tube - safely venting out fumes and smoke without damaging or deteriorating your chimney's actual cavity. A cap protects your chimney's flue from getting damaged by excess buildup from debris falling into the flue as well as the elements themselves. A hailstorm without a chimney cap could lead to serious flue damage! And trust us, you'll want to make sure your flue is protected - depending on the size of your chimney, replacement costs could cost anywhere from $2500 - $7000!
Keeps Unwanted Critters Out
Picture this: it's the middle of a cold winter night, and unknown to you, several mice or other rodents have found their way to your open flue liner and cozied up in your chimney for the night. When the next morning rolls around and you're looking to reload your stove or fireplace, you get one heck of a scare when you see (or hear) a rodent scurrying its way around your chimney lining. With a chimney cap, you can rest easy knowing that your chimney is critter-free!
Why Have a Chimney Cap Installed?
Take our word for it: it is MUCH better to have a chimney cap installed than to run the risk of anything we mentioned above. With a cap being an integral part of your chimney system, having one ensures that you'll be able to save quite literally thousands of dollars that would have otherwise gone to repairing or replacing your liner.
That about sums up everything you need to know about chimney caps - and why getting one is in your best interest. Thanks for giving this a read! Was this article helpful? Don't hesitate to share this the next time someone you know is looking for information on anything chimney related.
Fireside offers various chimney services - from inspections to chimney sweeps. In need of a chimney cap? Click here to contact us! We'd be happy to help you with your needs for all things chimney and hearth.
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