5 Reasons You Should Install a Chimney Cap

Your chimney is essentially a ventilation system; it safeguards your home, transferring hot flue gases to the outside air. As a channel between your home and the external environment, however, your chimney needs protection too. For this reason, chimney caps are a measure highly recommended by most professionals. The following are 5 reasons you should install a chimney cap, if you haven’t already.

Water Damage Prevention

As we discussed in a recent blog post, when water penetrates a chimney and undergoes freeze-thaw cycles it can wreak havoc. In addition to compromising the masonry of your chimney, water penetration can lead to more severe structural damage throughout your home. A chimney cap prevents water from entering your chimney and protects your home from such damage.

Protection Against Debris and Animals

An unprotected chimney tends to collect leaves, dirt and other debris. This debris clogs your chimney, hinders the drafting of your fireplace and could lead to a dangerous chimney fire. A chimney cap prevents your chimney from becoming, essentially, a giant trash bin.

In addition to debris, birds and other animals are likely to find their way into an open chimney. The warm, dark flue offers the perfect environment to build a nest. For the safety of these animals and your home, installing a chimney cap is the best course of action.

Chimney Liner Preservation

By protecting your chimney from unwanted water and debris, a chimney cap helps to preserve the life of your chimney liner. Such elements can seriously deteriorate your liner, particularly a clay liner. Your liner is essential for the optimal performance and safety of your chimney. Installing a chimney cap is a much simpler and more cost-effective procedure than repairing or replacing a damaged liner.

Spark Containment

Now that we’ve covered what a cap will keep out of your chimney, let’s discuss what it will keep in. When your fireplace is in use, large sparks can make their way up your chimney. If those sparks are hot enough, there is a chance they could exit your chimney and ignite nearby patches of grass or leaves. A chimney cap or spark arrestor will keep these sparks contained as they die out, safeguarding you and your neighbors from potential danger.

Draft Improvement

A chimney cap helps increase the draft of your fireplace. Without proper drafting, smoke and harmful gases can re-enter your home, creating an unpleasant and hazardous situation. Installing a chimney cap will improve your draft and ensure the proper functioning of your chimney.

As you can see, installing a chimney cap is a simple but effective measure well worth taking. A cap preserves and protects the overall life of your chimney. And when you protect your chimney, you protect your home. Contact Brick + Ember Outfitters today to schedule an installation.