Protecting your chimney keeps your fireplace and chimney system working efficiently and safely, and one of the best ways to prevent damage from occurring to your chimney is to be sure you have a high-quality chimney cap professionally installed on its top. Chimney caps play an important role for your chimney, and leaving your chimney uncapped is just like leaving a window or door open in your home. You do not want a big hole on the top of your house, but that is exactly what an uncapped chimney is. If you do not have a chimney cap protecting your chimney, our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney technicians can help you pick out the best cap for your chimney and install it to be sure it fits perfectly to provide the best protection possible. Why is a chimney cap so important? We would like to tell you the functions of a chimney cap and why you should never leave your chimney uncapped.
Prevent Water Penetration
According to the CSIA, a chimney cap is the least expensive way to keep water from getting inside your chimney. Water can do a lot of damage and deterioration to masonry chimneys, and capping your chimney can reduce your risk of damage from water leaks. As we said earlier, an uncapped chimney is a hole in your roof and provides easy entry for water from rain and melted snow.
Keep Birds & Animals Out
The hole left by an uncapped chimney is also an open invitation to birds, squirrels, raccoon, and other wild animals who are looking for a safe, warm place to nest for the winter. These creatures can cause damage and also bring diseases and insects into your home. Even if the animals leave your chimney, they will most likely leave their nesting materials behind, which causes a fire hazard. A chimney cap that is equipped with metal mesh siding can prevent birds and animals from getting into your chimney.
Reduce the Risk of Sparks Igniting Fire
The metal mesh siding that keeps animals and birds out has another function of preventing hot sparks and embers from jumping out of the chimney. If these hot sparks land on your roof or in your yard, they could ignite an accidental fire.
Improve Chimney Draft
Some types of chimney caps are vented to direct wind to improve chimney draft. If you are experiencing back drafts or other chimney draft issues, our staff can help you find a chimney cap that can solve these problems.
As you can see, capping your chimney is very important in prolonging the life of your chimney. To keep your chimney working as efficiently as possible, contact us at American Chimney & Masonry to talk to us about finding the perfect chimney cap for you.
