Encyclopedia

of Home Improvements

*Chimney Cap*

Does Your Home Have An Uncapped Chimney?

If your answer is yes, you need a Chimney Top. Plain and simple an uncapped chimney is a big hole in your house. A chimney cap is a device that attaches to the top of a chimney. Its purpose is to protect the inside of the chimney from the elements. Most chimney caps also have spark arrestor screens designed to contain sparks and cinders, and to keep animals out. Multi-flue chimney caps are designed to protect the inside of the chimney and the mortar crown area on top of the chimney as well.

Most chimney caps have a mesh screening that serves the dual purpose of spark arrestor and barrier against animals. Chimney caps also prevent rain from entering the flue of the chimney. Standard caps are made from a number of materials including steel, stainless steel, copper or aluminum. The most popular styles are stainless steel and black painted steel. Most models feature side screening which keeps most birds and small animals out of the chimney and also keeps larger sparks from existing the chimney.

These caps are mounted onto the chimney in various ways, the most popular being screws which are spaced around the base angle of the cap and tightened against the flue tile. If the chimney is unlined or the flue does not protrude far enough out the top, inside mounting models can be used. If neither of these methods work, manufacturers also provide mounting angles or other fasteners which can be lag bolted or cemented down to theta of the chimney structure.

Standard Stainless Steel Cap

Stainless Steel is a preferable material since it can better handle constant exposure to rain, wind, smoke and the other nasty conditions on top of your chimney. It also is less susceptible to rust, which will reduce the chance of getting stains on your chimney from cap runoff.

According to wind tunnel studies, standard caps have good properties for increasing draft in windy situations. In fact, standard caps can often function as well as, if not better than, certain models marketed as "draft increasing".

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