Do I Need to
Replace My Chimney Cap?
Next time you are on your
roof to remove those Christmas lights, adjust
your satellite dish, or clean out your gutters,
don’t forget to check out your chimney caps.
Chimney caps are placed on
top of your chimney to prevent leaves, water,
animals, and animal droppings from coming into
your home through your chimney. They are a metal
mesh, usually constructed from galvanized steel,
copper, or stainless steel. You can help to
protect your home by completing an annual
inspection of your chimney caps. Following are
four things you can do to inspect your chimney
caps.
- Do you even have
chimney caps in place? Sometimes chimney
caps will blow off in high wind areas. While
most chimney caps are designed to stand up
to high winds when they are properly affixed
to your chimney, if you have had extremely
high winds in your area your chimney caps
may have become damaged, or blown off
altogether.
- Have the chimney cap
been security attached? The attachment of
your chimney cap to your flue or chimney can
loosen over time due to winds, animals, or
just regular wear and tear. To re-tighten
your chimney cap either apply new sealant or
tighten the screws so ensure a proper seal.
- Is rust affecting
your chimney caps? Chimney caps that are
constructed using galvanized steel have a
lifespan of only three to five years before
they become so rusty that they are no longer
effective. This erosion can happen even
faster in parts of the country where they
may be exposed to salt water. If you don’t
want to replace your chimney cap every few
years consider installing a copper or
stainless steel model, as both come with
lifetime warranties.
- Is your chimney cap
clogged at the sides? High winds can push
leaves and other debris into the mesh sides
of your chimney cap, causing it to clog. The
mesh of your chimney cap can also get
clogged with creosote and soot, especially
if you are using firewood that has not been
properly seasoned. In areas that are prone
to wildfires the mesh in chimney caps is
smaller, and therefore tends to get clogged
more easily. Having a clogged chimney cap
can reduce the draft of your chimney,
resulting in both poor performance of your
fireplace and a potential fire.
It is wise to bring a
paper, pencil, and tape measure with you when
you go to the roof to inspect your chimney cap.
This way you will be able to write down the
information needed to order a new chimney cap if
yours is missing or damaged.
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Electric Fireplace Logs
When you want a realistic fireplace without the ashes.
Wood Burning
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