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How Your Chimney Cap Should Function

The cap may be the most important part of the chimney system-especially in springtime. It essentially protects the chimney flue from the top-down. Chimney caps come in varying styles depending on the climate, wind, and more. They also may double as a damper (top-sealing damper) and may even allow bird habitation. Your cap is the hat that protects the flue opening, and it seems, the cap itself wears many “hats”. 

The Cap Keeps the Weather Out

No matter what kind of chimney cap you have on your chimney, it should keep the weather out. The primary job of the chimney cap is to prevent precipitation from going into the flue. Most caps are designed to let the water run directly off the cap, and onto the crown where it runs off and onto the flashing and roof. These parts of the chimney system work together to prevent water damage that can devastate a chimney.
If you live in an area with high winds such as in a hurricane area, or near the Great Lakes you may find that most chimney caps have wind deflectors. These not only keep water out, but also wind that may carry water, may affect the draft, and more.

The Cap Keeps Animals Out

If a critter can climb onto your roof, you can bet it can also get into your chimney flue if it isn’t capped. Your chimney cap should prevent animal intrusion, including small types of birds, chipmunks, and even larger ones like raccoons. Chimney caps keep even the smallest animals from sheltering in your chimney, bringing their nesting materials, and leaving behind flammable debris and droppings. If you have an animal in your flue, you may need to call a professional for a humane removal. Even if the animal gets out of the flue on its own, it likely left behind claw marks, droppings, feathers, fur, and other materials that do not belong. You’ll need a chimney sweep to clean this material away-and you’ll need a chimney cap installed!

In some cases, like when a chimney swift is allowed into your chimney, there isn’t a thing you can do to remove them. Chimney swifts are federally protected, and they nest in chimneys (the next best thing to hollow trees, which is their natural habitat). These tiny birds will nest in an uncapped chimney and cannot be removed or harmed until they leave on their own, which can take up to 90 days! It’s best to prevent them from arriving in the first place.

The Cap Keeps the Fire In

Finally, your chimney cap will prevent stray sparks from escaping the flue and igniting other materials. Most roofs have dried leaves and branches, and shrubs and grasses are dry from a long winter and may be flammable. The chimney cap sends these sparks right back down to the fire, preventing a possible devastating fire.

Does your chimney have a cap? You’d be surprised how many new homeowners find their chimney without a cap. Others may not have noticed the cap blown off or damaged during winter. Make sure your chimney is capped by looking it over regularly.

Call Chief Chimney Services for more information about repairs and installations of caps and more.

The Function Of A Chimney Cap

Did summer storms dislodge your cap? Maybe you’re not convinced it was installed correctly in the first place, or you’re unimpressed with it’s design and function. If you had a chimney cap installed, but your fire is affected by wind gusts, wildlife, or it’s allowing rainwater into your chimney, you need a new cap!

Protection from the Top-Down

The chimney cap is often overlooked, especially by older generations, but it has never been more important. Chimneys are constructed to withstand time and chemical abuse, but they can be destroyed on the inside, from outside influences.

Chimney Caps Keep Water Out

Rain, sleet, snow, and wind can affect your chimney. Without a cap, precipitation falls directly into the flue, and begins affecting the chimney system right away. Water penetration is the worst thing that can happen to your masonry chimney. Masonry is constructed of many different materials, and all of them are adversely affected by water. Water in the chimney can cause:

• Rust of doors, hinges, attachments, damper assemblies and firebox assemblies
• Deterioration of masonry, flue lining system, and building materials.
• Ruined floors, walls, ceilings, wall coverings, carpeting, and duct systems.
• Spalling, shifting, and settlement of masonry.

(Note: The affect of water on your masonry is far-reaching. It can even cause a leak in another part of your home, due to water running unseen through walls and ceilings. Chimney leaks can also lead to mold and mildew which leads to chronic respiratory illness.)

Chimney Caps Keep Wind Out

During the summer, gusts of wind can lead to drafts in your house, raising the cost of cooling. During the winter, wind in the flue can lead to difficulty lighting or controlling a fire, as well as leading to drafts when the fire isn’t in use. Chimney caps come with wind deflectors.

Chimney Caps Keep Wildlife Out

Any small critter that can get onto your roof can also get into your chimney. Small animals such as squirrels and chipmunks as well as larger raccoons and opossums have been known to climb into chimneys. When they do, they bring debris, bedding, droppings, and fur that can decompose or ignite. If they get out again, they likely damage the lining with claw marks or holes. If they don’t escape, they can suffocate and die, causing a dangerous obstruction. Chief Chimney Services often sees animal intrusion and specializes in humane animal removal as well as chimney sweep services to return the chimney back to safe function.

Chimney Caps Suppress Unruly Sparks

Many chimney caps are equipped with spark suppressors that extinguish sparks that might have escaped the flue. This function prevents sparks from leaving the chimney and igniting debris on the roof or below, in the yard or landscaping.

All functions of the chimney cap are essential to the proper function of your chimney system. If you’re looking to replace your chimney cap, consider a top-sealing damper. The top-sealing damper, often called the energy-saving damper, attaches to the top of the chimney flue, working as a cap AND damper, saving you money, and providing more protection for the chimney from top to bottom, year-round. Discuss top-sealing dampers and chimney caps with a chimney expert now. Call 631-863-2460.

Keep Pests and Debris Out with a Chimney Cap

Some homeowners, particularly the older generation of homeowners, have never felt the need for a chimney cap. For the most part this is also the generation that cleaned the chimney themselves, and probably never saw damage because they didn’t know what to look for.

Really there is no way to prevent water damage when the chimney cap is missing. During a full year Long Island receives around 49 inches of rain on average. That is a lot of water in the chimney. More than that, with rain and other weather comes debris and animals seeking refuge. Keep pests and debris out with a chimney cap. It’s a simple and inexpensive preventative step you can take to avoid extreme costs later.

Why is it so Important?

The chimney cap is a simple and effective preventative measure that homeowners can have easily installed and it works exceptionally. The cap fits over the chimney crown and covers the flue opening, while allowing ventilation for the vapors and other byproducts from the fire. Chimney caps not only keep weather and critters outside, but also prevents sparks from leaving the chimney and igniting nearby debris. When the cap is missing, it is recommended to have it replaced immediately.

Risks of Pests and Debris in the Chimney

During stormy or freezing days, your chimney is warm and inviting to certain animals. Pests like squirrels, chipmunks, and even raccoons and opossums can make a home in your chimney. Once inside they can become trapped and die, as well as obstruct the chimney flue with nesting materials. A dead animal in the chimney will most definitely cause blockage, but it will also stink! Also, the nesting materials, like other types of debris can cause chimney issues and raise risks to the home as well.

If your chimney flue is left open with no cap it is likely that debris will fall into it. Twigs and leaves are easily ignited, and can cause serious fire danger if allowed into the chimney flue. Once inside the chimney, both outside debris and animals are hard to remove and should be done so by a certified chimney sweep.

The Professional Advantage

It’s always best to hire a professional chimney expert when you need a chimney check-up. Chimney professionals know what to look for, understand certain risk factors, and can assess and repair quickly. At Chief Chimney Services we pride ourselves in offering the best services on Long Island for all of our neighbors with chimneys and fireplaces. When we send out a chief chimney sweep you can rest assured that you will get the a recommendation based on safety and efficiency. If your chimney is missing a chimney cap, our sweep can offer the best options and you can make a installation plan right then.

Don’t wait until burn season to have your chimney assessed. Call Chief Chimney Services or contact us online to schedule an appointment to assess your chimney cap.

Let the Chief Tell You Why Your Chimney Needs a Cap!

Whether you have a brick-and-mortar chimney, a new or aging insert, or a simple stove pipe, you may wonder about a chimney cap. A lot of home owners may have a policy of “out of sight, out of mind”, but although the chimney stack is outside, it can cause major issues inside without a proper cap.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) describes the chimney cap as “an important chimney safety and damage prevention component.”

Keep the Outside Out

Although chimney caps can be found at your local home improvement stores at an affordable price, some home owners don’t find them important. Although we at Chief Chimney Services are happy to service all chimneys, we recommend the use of a chimney cap for safety as well as prevention.

Wood-burning furnaces are designed to heat the inside of the home, the chimney designed to release gases and equalize pressure in the home, and the chimney cap designed to keep certain things outside the home.

Weather

Chief Chimney Services will clean, maintain, and inspect chimneys to make sure the path is clear for gases to escape, but rain, snow, and ice can cause flue obstructions if allowed into the chimney. We recommend using chimney caps to keep the path clear!

Since chimneys have to allow large amounts of pressure and gas to escape, there are sometimes multiple openings at the top, called flues. If moisture is allowed into the openings it can run directly into the chimney itself, causing minor problems like bothersome odors in the home, and more serious damage like rusted damper assemblies, deteriorated firebox assemblies, rot, clogged heating and clean-out systems, stained chimneys, decayed mortar, cracked or damaged flue lining, collapsed hearth support, and tilted or collapsed chimney structure.

Wildlife

If a chimney cap is damaged, improperly installed, or nonexistent you essentially have a hole in your roof that animals can access. Any animal that can climb onto your roof can also climb into your home. A chimney is a warm and safe place for animals to shelter their own families, so if they have the opportunity, expect them to take advantage!

If an animal finds a way into you chimney it can definitely cause obstruction, and could even suffocate, causing a foul odor in the home, and need removal.

Keeping the Inside Out

At Chief Chimney Services, we recommend chimney caps to prevent sparks from escaping the chimney. A hot fire has the power to push hot sparks up the chimney along with the smoke and gases. These hot sparks can damage the roof around the chimney, and can cause accidental environmental fires.

It’s our responsibility as home and business owners to be responsible for our homes and buildings. We strive to give our customers the best opportunity for success, and we are readily available to help you with your chimney.

When to Call a Professional

If you are ready to install a chimney cap, or have concerns there is a problem with your existing chimney cap, notice a smoke or draft problem in your fireplace, furnace, or chimney system call a Chief Chimney Services professional today, or click here to schedule an appointment online.

Chimneys 101: All About Chimney Caps

Are you familiar with the multiple threats to your chimney and fireplace? From creosote to the deposit of moisture, invasion from animals and other issues, staying informed about what poses a threat to your investment is always a good idea.
A chimney cap is an easy way to minimize threats to your fireplace, chimney and the structure of your home, and offers many benefits for homeowners that you might not be aware of. Check out the information below to learn all about chimney caps.

What is a Chimney Cap?

A chimney cap is a stainless steel, mesh or copper cap that fits to the top of your chimney, allowing the smoke and vapors from burning fires to escape through its vents, but preventing other elements from entering your chimney and making their way into your home.
Despite the necessity of a chimney cap in maintaining the safety and efficiency of your fireplace and chimney, many homeowners are unaware of the issues they face by letting their chimney remain uncapped. In short, a chimney cap is an essential and necessary part of protecting your chimney, fireplace and home from unwanted critters, moisture and weather elements.

Why Do You Need a Chimney Cap?

In addition to its protective properties against wild animals, debris, the elements and excess moisture, a chimney cap serves as a protective barrier between your roof and any floating embers or ashes that might come out through your chimney as you enjoy a fire. Many home fires have been caused as a result of uncapped chimneys sending burning embers onto a home’s roof, causing combustion, structural damage and even home loss.

• Similarly, moisture build-ups in your chimney can cause both structural damage and general deterioration, threating your investment and prompting costly repairs. In addition to inhibiting the amount of moisture that enters your chimney, caps are designed to help route rainwater away from your chimney and off of your roof.
• Chimney caps also prevent non-animal or creosote-based blockages, such as those that result from a build-up of leaves, sticks and wind-borne debris, from creating havoc in your chimney.
• Another benefit you can expect from your chimney cap is a reduction in drafts and excess air flow. During the wintertime, especially in New York, cold gusts of wind and downdrafts can travel through an uncapped chimney, causing heat loss and even blowing smoke and soot into your home. A chimney cap essentially eliminates the occurrence of drafts and gusts of wind coming in through your fireplace.

An uncapped-chimney allows all manner of debris into your home and could potentially cause blockages, damage to your chimney’s structure or issues with venting, any of which can lead to costly, dangerous issues with your investment.

Choosing the Right Chimney Cap for Your Home

So you know you need to invest in a chimney cap, but how can you find the right cap for your chimney and tastes? No matter what you’re looking for, a professional chimney and fireplace company can provide consultation and installation that can put your mind at ease and help you find the right cap for your home. Chief Chimney Services of Suffolk County has been providing superior chimney cap education and installation to satisfied customers for years. Check out our website to browse our services and set up an appointment.