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Ultimate Guide to Chimney Caps

Post by : Admin

30-May-2022

Have you ever wondered if you need a chimney cap? or what would be the right chimney cap for your chimney? A chimney cap is an integral part of your chimney for it to function appropriately. At Creative Masonry & Chimney, we have put together a guide to answer all your questions and guide you to the right chimney cap.

What is a Chimney Cap?

A chimney cap is a covering for your chimney. It’s installed right on top of its crown, also known as masonry. Chimney caps are usually made up of copper or stainless steel. If you buy a chimney cap of low-quality steel, there are chances of it staining your roof and becoming corrosive.

Why Do You Need a Chimney Cap?

You need chimney caps to prevent the chimney liner flue from getting clogged with rainwater, debris, or snow. Chimney caps act as a water barrier and keep the rainwater from flowing directly into your chimney. It also acts as a spark arrestor, extinguishing any spark that threatens to go out and light leaves on fire. If your chimney doesn’t have a cap, animals can find their way into your house and potentially get stuck or die. A chimney cap prevents that from happening.

What are the Types of Chimney Caps?

The type of chimney cap depends on the type of your chimney flue. If you have a masonry chimney, which is usually made up of wood, the best choice for you is a single flue chimney cap with or without extended flues. If you have a factory-made metal chimney, your priority for a chimney cap should either be a single-wall or double-wall air-insulated metal chimney cap. But few chimneys don’t fit the stereotype, and then we have specialty chimney caps for them. They include draft-increasing chimney caps,  electric draft-increasing chimney caps, outside-mount chimney caps, and flue stretcher chimney caps.

How to Select the Right Size?

The first step while selecting the right chimney cap for your chimney is knowing the flue type: Whether it’s extended, non-extended, has a metal liner, or is a single-wall flue. Then comes the flue shape and cap type. You need to know if your chimney is round, oval, square, or rectangular. You also need to decide whether you want a cap on or screw-on cap type. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind when measuring the size of the cap.

A chimney with a rectangular cap

How to Maintain a Chimney Cap?

It’s important to clean out your chimney cap before it clogs up and forms creosote buildup on the surface. You can use vinegar to scrub away the creosote buildup with the help of a stiff bristle brush.

Installation of the Right Chimney Cap

Once you have done your research and selected the chimney cap that fits your need best,  speak volumes about their professional work. Creative Masonry & Chimney provides its services in different towns of Connecticut, including; Glastonbury, East Hartford, Manchester, South Windsor, and Litchfield. If you don’t need a chimney cap, you can contact them for other masonry services and chimney repair services.