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Functions Of A Chimney Cap

If you own your own fireplace, you may be aware of the various parts that need regular maintenance. Dampers, brickwork, flue liners, and flashing are just a few of the many components that make up your chimney. Every piece plays an important role, and learning about these various parts is important in maintaining regular upkeep.

One piece that does a lot of work for your chimney, but often gets overlooked, is the chimney cap. Many homeowners wonder if installing a chimney cap is actually necessary for maintaining chimney health. The answer is yes! Chimney caps serve various functions and do a lot when it comes to helping your chimney stand strong for years to come. Check out some of these below!

Prevents Water Damage

Water and masonry should not mix. When water gets into your brickwork it triggers countless issues. Some of these include rusting, deterioration, cracking, mold and mildew accumulation, clogs, water stains, and rot. Your chimney may also wear down enough that a collapse or settlement may occur. All of these lead to unsightly and unsafe problems that put your home and family at risk.

Chimney caps help keep water out of your chimney. They are placed over the opening on the top of your chimney and keep it dry during bad weather and storms. The Underwriters Laboratories now requires a chimney cap in order to meet their safety standards! Invest in one today to keep water out.

Keeps Animals Out

Various birds and woodland creatures love to use chimneys for storage. Chimneys provide a warm and cozy spot to build nests and stash leaves, twigs, grass, and more. Unfortunately, these materials cause clogs and may trigger chimney fires if not removed. On top of this, the animals themselves may climb in and get stuck. If they can’t find their way out, you will soon start facing nasty smells and pest accumulation.

When you have a chimney cap installed, animals are left with no way to enter and cause problems. Getting a professional in to remove these critters and the debris that comes with them makes for a lot of extra hassle. Minimize stress and stop wasting time on issues that are easy to avoid. Purchase a chimney cap today!

Acts As Spark Arrestors

When you run your fireplace, stray sparks can easily work their way up the chimney and onto your roof. This could lead to a house fire, putting your home and family in a lot of danger! A chimney cap helps avoid this problem. They are known as spark arrestors, meaning they contain flying sparks from landing on your roof. Play it safe, and have your cap installed today.

Call Us Now!

At Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we are qualified to install and inspect your chimney cap. Contact us today to ensure your home is protected. We look forward to making your chimney great!

Choosing the Best Chimney Cap to Prevent Water Leaks

One of your best defenses against water penetration and animal invasions of your chimney, a chimney cap sits on top of your chimney’s opening. With several different types of chimney caps available, how do you know which cap is the right fit for the flue of your chimney? At Weststar Chimney Sweeps, we are experienced with fitting all types of chimney caps, even customized caps, and we know the importance of proper installation. We would like to tell you a bit about the different kinds of chimney caps and what you should know about selecting the right kind for your chimney to prevent damaging water leaks.

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The main thing to consider when deciding which chimney cap is right for your chimney is the shape of your flue. Chimney caps come in different shapes to fit each type of flue. These shapes include:

ROUND FLUES

Whether you have a clay, masonry, or metal flue, you can find a round chimney cap that can either attach the the outside of the flue or slip inside the flue. Round chimney caps are made from an assortment of materials including copper, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. Some round flue liners require chimney caps that must be inserted inside the chimney flue, such as round flexible flue liners and round solid pack flue liners.

SQUARE AND RECTANGULAR FLUES

The most commonly shaped flue, square and rectangular chimney caps can be attached to the flue, or, if you have a chimney crown, there are chimney caps in these sizes that can attach to the crown. Made from the same metals as the round chimney caps, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) recommends you choose a chimney cap constructed from a sturdy, durable, and rust- and corrosion-resistant material to ensure a long-lasting cap. For chimney caps that attach to a chimney crown, you will need to choose from top mounted chimney caps.

OVAL FLUES

Unless you have a custom-shaped oval chimney cap made for you by our technicians at Weststar Chimney Sweeps, you will need to look at rectangular shaped chimney caps that will cover the exterior of your flue.. When you look inside this type of cap, you can see how the corner tabs or interior ledges will accommodate oval flues.

There are other considerations other than preventing water leaks to think about when choosing a chimney cap. These include:

MESH SPARK ARRESTOR

To prevent animals from entering your chimney to take up a new residence and to keep sparks from flying out of your chimney and possibly starting a fire, your chimney cap should be equipped with wire mesh sides. Be sure the mesh openings are between ¾ to ½ inches in size to keep animals out, to contain large pieces of hot debris and ashes, and to allow toxic gases to escape.

COMBINATION OF A CHIMNEY CAP AND DAMPER

You can now find top sealing chimney caps that do double duty as a protective cap and as a damper. Perfect for new home constructions and for older chimneys in need of numerous repairs, the damper is located on the cap. When it is sealed closed, the air loss from your home is reduced by 90%. When the damper is opened, the wire mesh on the chimney cap protects your chimney from invading animals and prevents stray sparks from exiting.

Want to know more about the different types of chimney caps? Contact Weststar Chimney Sweeps today to talk to our expert staff about your many options.