Chimney Cap Installation Near You: Reach Out to Grand Junction’s Chimney Experts Today

What Is the Main Function of a Chimney Cap?

The primary function of a chimney cap is to keep water out of your chimney system. Rain, snow, and melting ice are among the biggest threats to chimney performance and longevity, and a properly installed chimney cap acts as the first line of defense against moisture-related damages.

Picture this: You’re outside enjoying the day, when rain starts to fall, so you pop open your umbrella. An umbrella to you is like a chimney crown or chase cover, sending water out and away from your body. But imagine that your umbrella has a small hole in the top – while water would still mostly go out and away, the top of your head would still get pretty wet.

This is the case for your chimney without a chimney cap. While the crown or chase cover would still play a big part in leak prevention, the main hole where smoke and fumes come is still open and vulnerable.

A chimney cap covers this opening, while still providing space for gases and smoke to escape. Many caps also come with a mesh screen to block out birds, animals, and debris – but its water prevention role is the most crucial.

What Other Purposes Do Chimney Caps Serve?

Now, while water damage prevention is what caps are most known for, a chimney cap does more than just that. While it may seem like a small feature, it actually does a lot of heavy lifting in other ways, as well, playing a part in protecting your chimney from animals, downdrafts, fire hazards, and poor performance. Let’s break it down:

• Chimney caps keep out animals. Chimney caps with mesh screens prevent birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other animals from entering your chimney to nest or seek shelter. Without a cap, animals can get trapped in the flue or cause dangerous blockages.
• Chimney caps block outdoor debris. Leaves, twigs, and other windblown debris can fly into an uncovered chimney and clog the flue, reducing draft and increasing the risk of smoke backup or chimney fires. A cap helps keep that debris out.
• Chimney caps help contain sparks and embers. Chimney caps act as spark arrestors, preventing hot embers from escaping the flue and landing on your roof or nearby combustible materials (like leaves that have built up on your roof).
• Chimney caps reduce downdrafts. Wind blowing across the chimney opening can create a vacuum that forces smoke and cold air back into your home. Chimney caps help minimize this effect by disrupting wind flow and improving draft consistency.
• Chimney caps extend your chimney’s lifespan. By keeping moisture, animals, and debris out, chimney caps reduce deterioration of the liner, crown, and masonry, ultimately extending the life of your chimney system.
• Chimney caps save you money over time. By preventing costly damage from water, animals, and chimney fires, a chimney cap helps you avoid expensive repairs down the road.

Needless to say, it’s a low-cost investment that delivers big benefits! If you need chimney cap installation services near you, don’t wait to reach out – we’re happy to help.

Are There Different Types of Chimney Caps?

Yes! Since all chimneys are different and vent different fuel byproducts, there are a number of different types of chimney caps to accommodate specific needs. And choosing the right chimney cap is important for both protection and performance.

• Single-Flue Chimney Cap: This is best for basic chimneys with a single flue opening. They’re affordable, easy to install, and provide quality base protection for those venting from just one spot. These are available in various shapes and materials, often coming with mesh guards that block sparks and keep out animals.
• Multi-Flue Chimney Cap: Do you have multiple flues that are close together? A multi-flue cap is bigger, covering the entire chimney crown, protecting all flues at once, and offering broader protection from weather, debris, and animals. These can be custom-made to fit your chimney’s dimensions precisely.
• Wind-Resistant Chimney Cap: For homes that are more out in the open and prone to face more wind, these might be the best fit. If you’ve noticed a lot of draft issues when lighting your fireplace, this design helps improve draft performance by deflecting those harsh breezes.
• Top-Mount (Outside-Mount) Chimney Cap: This is what most sweeps will recommend for larger masonry chimneys with crowns. These caps mount to the outside edges of the chimney crown, not just the flue, covering more surface area. They can be customized to fit your exact chimney structure.

If you aren’t sure what you need, ask about your options. Whether you’re looking for basic protection, enhanced performance, or have some unique needs and need something custom built, there’s a chimney cap to suit your needs. For help selecting and installing the right chimney cap, reach out to our experts. We’d be glad to get you where you need to be.

What’s the Difference Between Chimney Caps, Chimney Crowns & Chase Covers?

Chimneys can seem like pretty basic structures, but if you take a look up there, you’ll see that there’s a lot going on – and lots of components that help to keep the flue system protected. All chimneys should have a chimney cap, and depending on the type of chimney, it should also have either a chimney crown or a chase cover.

What’s the difference between these three components?

• The chimney cap sits at the very top of the chimney, covering the flue opening. Its purpose is to keep rain, snow, animals, leaves, and debris from entering the flue opening. It also prevents downdrafts from swooping down, as well as stops sparks from escaping and landing on the roof. Every chimney should have a chimney cap.
• The chimney crown is what’s found at the very top of a masonry chimney, surrounding and sealing the entire top area. This is the sloped concrete surface that directs water away from the sides of the chimney, protecting the brickwork and mortar from absorbing water.
• The chimney chase cover is like the crown, but for prefabricated chimneys, helping direct water out and away from the sides of the structure. A factory-built chase won’t be able to hold up a concrete crown, so a metal chase cover is installed instead.

Have questions or aren’t sure what you need? Don’t hesitate to reach out – we’d be happy to assess your situation and lead you down the right path.

For Chimney Cap Installs Near You, Reach Out

Don’t let an unprotected flue leave your chimney vulnerable to damage. With professional chimney cap installation services from Stove Depot, you can ensure your system is safeguarded through every season. If you’re in the Grand Junction area and need chimney cap services, give us a call or schedule your appointment today.