Reasons To Have A Chimney Cap Installed

A properly installed chimney cap is an essential component of your fireplace system. Without it, several problems can emerge. The reasons you should have a chimney cap installed are vital, so let’s look at the five main purposes they serve.

Most importantly, it prevents fires

Chimney problems are one of the leading causes of home fires. While there are many other factors at play (including the need for regular chimney inspections and sweeps to remove creosote), a chimney cap prevents debris, flammable or otherwise, from entering your chimney. It also stops embers from escaping from your chimney, risking fire to other parts of your home.

Second, it reduces moisture

An uncapped chimney is a recipe for moisture buildup inside. Masonry materials are porous by nature, which means that once a leak starts, the freeze-thaw cycle of New Hampshire winters leads to additional structural decay. Moisture is one of your chimney’s worse enemies, but when you have a chimney cap installed, it stops moisture dead in its tracks. Plus, as a side note, moisture in the home is one of the primary causes of mold and mildew. Your cap acts as another layer of defense against this.

Third, it acts as a deterrent to rodents

Older houses that converted their heating system to a furnace still require some kind of method for gasses to escape. Since these are no longer connected to a fireplace, most homeowners don’t think much about them.

That is until they hear a poor squirrel fall down the chimney and get stuck inside. A chimney cap installed over the system will prevent hapless rodents from meeting their end in your chimney.

It also prevents birds and bats from building nests

Likewise, winged pests such as birds and bats like to build nests inside of your chimney. This can lead to blockages in the system, trapping escaping gases inside of the home, or even leading to a fire due to the flammable materials they use for their nests.

It protects the rest of the chimney system

Your chimney is a complex system that includes a flue, flashing, crown, masonry and more. Each component is susceptible to weather damage, which is especially prevalent during our winter season. A chimney cap installed will protect all parts of the system from whatever the elements throw at it, from rain and hail in the spring and summer to wind and snow in the fall and winter.

Finally, it helps to save money

Downdrafts are a problem for chimneys — that is if they don’t have a properly installed chimney cap on them. These downdrafts create a temperature mismatch, which can lead to higher heating bills in the winter. Chimney caps prevent downdrafts and in turn, help save you money.

We can make a custom chimney cap for you

Chimneys come in all shapes and sizes. Just like the tires on your car, you wouldn’t put too small of a size tire on your SUV, so why assume one-size-fits-all with your chimney cap? If you would like to schedule a time for one of our team members to give you a quote for a custom cap, visit our contact page or give us a call: (603) 293-4040!