The top of your chimney is one of its more vulnerable areas. Why? Because this is where rain, snow, leaves, twigs and small animals can enter and cause all kinds of serious problems. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this.
The Chimney Guys install a variety of chimney caps and covers throughout the Columbus, Ohio, region, including:
- Custom full coverage chimney caps
- Chimney chase covers
- Flue covers
- Top-mount chimney dampers
Here’s a little about the operation and benefits of each component.
Custom Full Coverage Chimney Caps
These protective metal caps with mesh siding cover the entire top of your chimney, protecting both the flue opening and the vulnerable concrete chimney crown. Intruding water from an open flue or a deteriorated crown can damage the chimney liner, interior masonry, fireplace damper and more. It can also start a growth of mold.
Full coverage, outside-mount chimney caps also keep debris and animals out of your chimney. Leaves, twigs and small animal nests are common causes of drafting obstructions that can send smoke and deadly carbon monoxide into your home.
Chimney Chase Covers
Found on factory-built chimneys, chimney chase covers are similar to full coverage caps in that they guard the entire top of the structure and keep rain and debris out of the system. The best material for a chase cover is stainless steel because it’s rust-resistant, durable and economical.
A storm collar is part of the chase top and surrounds the flue pipe, functioning like a masonry chimney’s flue cover (see below) to protect the flue.
Flue Caps
Flue caps, as the name implies, cover the flue opening at the top of the chimney. They have a solid top and mesh sides that effectively keep rain, tree debris and small animals out of your chimney flue.
In most cases, we would recommend a full-width chimney cap, just because it will add more protection to the top of the chimney than a flue cover. But if guarding only the flue opening is your objective, a sturdy flue cover will do the job.
Top-Mount Chimney Dampers
These ingenious components do what standard throat dampers do and a lot more. Top-mount chimney dampers regulate the flow of air to optimize drafting, and they shield the flue from rain and debris.
In addition, their tight clamping seal stops the air exchange between the house and the outside, saving you money on heating and cooling bills. Easy to operate with a cable-pulley system, top-mount dampers greatly reduce downdrafts that can blow smoke and fiery sparks into your home.
Chimney Top Installation in Columbus
The Chimney Guys provides professional installation of all these chimney top components for Columbus-area homes. If your chimney system has been damaged in relation to a faulty chimney top, we’ll inspect the chimney and make the needed repairs before installing the new top component.
We’re here to help with all your chimney needs, from component installation and repairs to chimney sweeping, chimney inspections and the installation of fireplaces and stoves.
Since 2004, we’ve served customers in Columbus OH, Gahanna OH, Pataskala OH, Reynoldsburg OH, Westerville OH, Dublin OH, Hilliard OH, Canal Winchester OH, Granville OH, Lewis Center OH, Heath OH, and many other Ohio communities.
Reach us at (614) 446-1221 or get in touch with our contact form.
