Chimney Rainhoods & Chimney Caps
A chimney cap serves a lot of purposes, but its job first and foremost is to keep the rain and snow out of your chimney. By using a chimney cap—or rainhood—to protect your fireplace and chimney from the elements, you’re also protecting it from other offenders, like animals and debris. Installing or repairing a chimney cap is one of the easiest and most important fixes you can make to your chimney. And, unless your home has already suffered major water damage, it is also a very affordable way to keep water out of your residence.
Only hire a certified chimney sweep to install your chimney cap. At Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc., we can inspect your chimney and let you know if your chimney cap needs replacing or not. In addition, we can replace or repair your damper and your chimney lining, or make masonry repairs, if necessary. Please don’t hesitate to call us to schedule a chimney inspection. When we install a chimney cap for you, you will rest easy knowing that your chimney cap is covered by a lifetime warranty.
What Is A Chimney Cap?
A chimney cap is a protective covering for a chimney. It is usually made of aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel, or copper. Most of these caps come with a mesh screen called a spark arrestor that keeps pests out and keeps sparks inside your chimney on windy days. This screening is designed specifically to create proper drafting inside your chimney, while letting wildlife guests know they are not welcome. Stainless steel caps are guaranteed against rust and are usually the most durable caps on the market, but Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. also happily offers copper caps, which develop a beautiful patina.
Why Do I Need A Chimney Cap?
It’s imperative that your chimney has a cap to keep rainwater out. When rain or snow gets into a chimney, it can damage your masonry, which is very vulnerable to water because brick and mortar are porous. In time, an uncovered chimney will also allow rain to reach other areas of your house and can lead to some seriously costly repairs.
In addition to keeping out rain and snow, chimney caps also keep birds from nesting in your chimney and prevent other insects and small animals like squirrels and mice from making a home there, too. This means that not only does a chimney cap ensure that you won’t have to deal with the stench of a dead animal or the noises of a live one – you won’t have to worry about these creatures obstructing the flow of air through your chimney. Keep in mind that to an animal, your chimney is the perfect place to live because it’s high up and dry—a veritable penthouse. But when animals nest in your chimney they’re bringing with them flammable debris like leaves, sticks, and grass, as well as infestations of lice, fleas, and maggots. These nests can also potentially create a fire hazard by blocking your chimney. Obstructed air flow is one thing you really don’t want happening in your chimney, which is there to move toxic gases like carbon monoxide safely out of your house and away from your family.
Finally, a chimney cap keeps stray sparks inside your chimney on windy days when they could set fire to nearby trees, leaves, and other flammables.
Custom Chimney Caps
Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. offers custom-made caps in stainless steel and copper. We find that many of our customers request custom caps to distinguish their chimney, and so we have provided caps in a variety of shapes and in custom colors and patinas. With more than 20 years in the chimney business, we have come to specialize in making and installing custom chimney caps. Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. professionals will take exact measurements, making sure we get the perfect fit, so that your chimney cap lasts for the life of your chimney. Interested in having us build a custom chimney cap for your chimney? Contact Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. today or click here to schedule an appointment online!
Waterproofing can help prevent a leaking chimney and add years of life to your chimney system. Let’s discuss the possibilities.
