Chimney Caps

To keep a chimney safe, it needs to have a few things. Installing a chimney cap is one way to ensure your chimney stays in good shape all year. Good caps can keep animals, rain, and other things out of your chimney, making it safer.

In this short article, we will take you through chimney caps and all you need to know about them; keep reading.

What is Chimney Cap?

Chimney caps are chimney covers that go on top of your chimney to protect it. You could call it a chimney protector. Most of the time, steel or copper mesh is used to make them.

They also come in different styles to match the outside of your house. A cap goes on top of the mesh ring to keep rain and downdrafts from getting into your chimney.

No one wants to think about their fireplace when it's sweltering outside, but they should because when it gets cold, we all long for our fireplaces.

Sadly, that's usually too late in the season to get an inspection or make any repairs that might be needed. People who don't have chimney caps can get a lot of damage in just one year.

Are Chimney Caps Necessary?

Yes, chimney cap installation is vital. They serve two primary purposes: First, they keep "outside things" out and "inside things" in, sort of like a "guard at the gate.

They keep water, snow, animals, and other things out of your chimney that could hurt you or your chimney.

Now let's tell you about the importance of having a cap on your chimney!

Benefits Of Chimney Caps

Sometimes people wonder is the Chimney cap replacement cost is worth it. We are hoping that after these lists of benefits, you’ll be able to make up your mind.

1. Keep Out Animals

When you burn fires every night in your chimney, it won't look like a good place for animals to live.

But during the warm summer months, many animals come to make it home. Many animals, from chimney sweep birds to raccoons, may find your chimney an excellent place to live.

You’ll probably never know till baby birds or raccoons fall down your chimney and into your fireplace. So you’ll be needing a fireplace cover.

These animals will also leave behind nesting materials that can catch fire when you try to start a fire next year. Putting a chimney cap on your chimney can keep pests out and save you a lot of money on cleaning.

2. Reduce Moisture

One of the best reasons to put a chimney cap on your chimney is to make your home less damp. Water will get into your chimney if you reside somewhere that gets a lot of rain. You want to stop this from happening as much as possible.

Water entering your chimney can hurt the liner, the damper, and even the mortar joints. It can also cause mold and mildew to grow in your chimney, which you don't want in your home. It can also make your home more humid, which makes it less comfortable.

3. Stop downward drafts

We don't often think about it, but chimneys don't just let air flow out of our homes. It's also a way for air to get in, and if you live in a windy place, it can cause a downdraft when the wind is coming from a particular direction. This is when the wind comes back down your chimney and into your house making a chimney cover a very important installation.

Downdrafts can make your home much colder in the winter when you don't have a fire. If you have a fire burning, smoke could get into your house. A chimney cap can stop these downdrafts from coming into your home, keeping it warm and smoke-free.

4. Stop Sparks

Have you ever seen sparks and coals from a campfire floating up into the night? When you ignite the flames in your fireplace, the same thing happens in your chimney. And nothing is stopping one of those coals from floating out of your chimney and hitting your roof.

A fire could start on your roof with just a tiny spark. If you've been watching the wildfires in California, you know that it doesn't take much to start one. You wouldn't want to take that chance. A chimney cap that has a spark arrestor can get hold of those coals before they land on your roof, making it less likely that they will start a fire.

5. Don't Let Flues Get Clogged

If you clean your gutters once a year, you'll know how much trash can end up on your roof. Leaves from trees nearby, branches, twigs, and other things can pile up and cause problems. But what keeps all of that debris from going up your chimney?

If you don't have a chimney cap, all kinds of things can get stuck in your chimney, with the possibility that the chimney could get clogged, letting smoke and carbon monoxide back into the house.

Or when you start your first fire of the season, that trash can catch fire and set your house on fire. You can keep that stuff out of your fireplace safe by installing a chimney cap.

Types Of Chimney Caps

Since fireplaces and chimneys are different, you can bet that caps are, too. Make sure the chimney cap you choose is made of a suitable material like the ones we sell here.

Galvanized metal chimney caps, stainless steel chimney caps, and copper chimney caps are the top three choices. Which one you choose depends on how your fireplace is set up and how much money you have, but stainless steel is our favourite because it is strong.

Choose a galvanized chimney cap if you want to save money. But these caps will not work with gas logs. Over time, they can rust and damage your chimney and siding. Copper and stainless-steel caps cost more, but they look better and don't need as much care.

Chimney Cap Shapes

A chimney cap will match the shape of your chimney pipe or chimney opening. Chimney caps are typically either square, round or rectangle. You’ll want to match your chimney cap shape with the shape of your chimney flue or chimney pipe running up to your roof. The shape of your chimney cap will dictate the chimney cap sizes available to you as well as any other chimney options you may have.

Chimney Cap Sizes

Chimney caps come in a range of sizes to fit your chimney system and match the shape of your cap. You’ll find round chimney caps come in a range of diameters from 6-18” while square and rectangular chimney caps are available in dimensions.

How to Measure Your Chimney for a Chimney Cap

To measure your chimney for a chimney cap, first determine the shape of the chimney cap you’ll need for your system – round, square or rectangle. From there, you’ll measure the size of the opening of your Class A Chimney Pipe or measure the chimney crown located at the top of your chimney’s opening.

If you’re replacing an old or worn-out chimney cap, you’ll want to use it as a guide for your new chimney cap measurements. Using a tape measure or ruler, simply measure the diameter of the old round chimney cap or record the dimensions of the old square or rectangular cap. Match these measurements with the new chimney cap of the same size in CJ's store.

Importance of Maintaining Your Chimney Cap

It’s extremely important to keep your chimney cap in top working condition and inspect it regularly for damages, cracks or bent parts. Since your chimney cap works to keep moisture, debris and critters out of your chimney system, the slightest damage or crack in the chimney cap can compromise the entire system. Inspect your chimney cap regularly, every couple of months or so, to ensure it’s in proper working condition and not allowing any moisture, debris or animals access to your chimney pipe or flue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do chimney caps last?

• The average chimney cap lasts about 3-5 years at which point it will start to deteriorate and not work effectively. This average is based on the constant use of your chimney and therefore your chimney cap may last longer or you may need to replace it more often than other components. Our chimney caps are made of durable materials such as stainless steel and galvanized steel so it will last as long as possible.

Do I really need a chimney cap?

• Technically speaking, the decision to have a chimney cap is all your own. But there are a few considerations you should take before making a rash decision. A chimney cap prevents water, animals, and debris from entering your fireplace. Water entering the chimney could possibly cause damage and lead to mold. It is important to keep this in mind when you are deciding but the decision is ultimately up to you!

Do chimney caps keep water out of your home?

• Yes! The purpose of a chimney cap is to keep all the unwanted moisture, among other things, out of your chimney and away from your home. This includes all forms of precipitation such as water, sleet, snow and ice.