If your cap requires screws, they're typically included with your purchase.
Each is designed to address a specific chimney problem in addition to covering your flue opening. Homeowners know that moisture is always a bad sign, especially in cold, damp places like the inside of your chimney. There are also factory built metal chimneys, which are simply flues consisting of metal pipes, either aluminum or stainless steel, that stick out of the roof. You can open and close it by using a lever on the fireplace wall, so youll know for sure when the chimney is being exposed to a draft. By elevating your flue you can solve some of the most common smoky fireplace problems. That makes them a good choice if you have multiple flues, oddly-shaped flues, or a poorly constructed crown. Whether you choose to maintain their original color or allow them to develop a natural green patina, these caps naturally enhance most brickwork and have an elegant look other chimney covers just can't provide. The most basic reason for this has to do with fire safety. If you've got an active chimney, you should have a chimney cap. If you're not sure what the codes are in your area, the easiest way to find out is by contacting your town's municipal department. The chimney cap is a potential problem area, no matter how frequently youve used your fireplace. Triple-wall solid-pack insulated metal chimneys feature three walls separated by insulation. This means that the mesh used on the chimney caps has to be small enough to prevent a half-inch sphere from passing through them. By capping your,chimney you're protecting both your family and your furry neighbors. This can cause downdrafts, a serious problem where the smoke from your fire is blown back down your chimney. The following chart provides information about how to measure the most common chimneys for a standard chimney cap. Fortunately, theres a chimney cap just for that. This is not to say that they're totally flimsy - you'll usually get at least five years of service out of a high-quality one, but they are much more prone to corrosion than caps made from other materials. Too much water exposure can seep into the seams of the masonry, and before you know it, your chimney is crumbling apart. So if you dont have a cap for your chimney, definitely make it a priority to purchase one. It is important to note, though, that these caps can't solve draft problems that aren't related to wind. Required fields are marked *. Looking for retractable awnings? Chimney downdrafts occur when something disrupts the natural air flow of a chimney. It's still possible for you to get a chimney cap. During your annual chimney inspection your professional chimney sweep can check the cap to make sure it is properly cleaned and safe to use. If you've got an older masonry chimney with a loose-fitting, broken, or missing damper mechanism, heated or cooled air can escape through your chimney whenever your fireplace isn't in use. When getting this kind of chimney cap you'll need to measure the length of each of your chimney's exterior walls and the height of your tallest flue. Galvanized steel isnt as durable as the other material choices, but theyre the most cost effective. 6'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, 6'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Tee, 8'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, 6'' x 35' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Tee, 6'' TDW Vacu-Stack for Air Cooled Chimney, Enervex Chimney Fan - RSHT 16 - Solid Fuel Appliance Only, Vacu-Stack 6" TDW Air Cooled with 1/2" Screen, Enervex Chimney Fan - RSHT 14 - Solid Fuel Appliance Only, Vacu-Stack 8" TDW Air Cooled with 1/2" Screen, 8'' TDW Vacu-Stack for Air Cooled Chimney, 13'' Type ''C'' Chimney Top Draft Inducer, Enervex Chimney Fan - RS 009-Gas Appliance Only, 6'' x 35' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, Vacu-Stack 6" TDW Air Cooled with 1" x 1" Screen. Take a look at the following scenarios and see if they sound familiar. Masonry chimneys with more than one flue are called multi-flue chimneys. If paper is burned in the fireplace, which isnt recommended, ash could accumulate and get trapped in the netting, causing blockage. Aluminum is generally more prone to bending than galvanized steel. Your email address will not be published. Also, most draft-increasing chimney caps are designed to fit factory-built metal chimneys. Why does the chimney cap screen keep plugging up? * Accessories, If youre not sure if your fireplace is safe to use, its probably time for an inspection. Everest you discover that you're one of the flueless minorities, there's no reason to be concerned. If you have an older masonry chimney that is lacking a damper, youll likely begin to notice air escaping when dont have a fire burning in the fireplace. * Barbecues & charcoal smokers, Discoloration of the chimney and roof in the surrounding brick or stucco could also occur, if there is an accumulation of creosote or soot in the mesh. You should also have them installed by a chimney service professional. Chimney caps are not, however, only important because of what they keep in but also what they keep out. As the smoke is exiting the flue connected to your fireplace on the upper level of your home, the flue from the one on the lower floor is automatically pulling it back in.Adding a flue stretcher to the flue from the upstairs fireplace can eliminate this problem because it creates more space between the two flues and makes it more likely that the smoke from the upstairs fireplace will be able to escape the draw of the downstairs flue. A cap and damper combination piece can aid in fixing this issue because this cap will mount on the top of the flue and is controlled by a cable that runs down the chimney. A chimney cap is a covering for the top of your chimney, and it usually includes wire mesh. Talk about an expensive repair. Most masonry chimney caps are mounted directly onto a chimney's flue or crown. Find out more about our repair process here. There are four basic types: You can secure a chimney cap with an adhesive, sealant, or screws. Unless your cap is somehow torn off of your roof, the most you'll ever have to do is a quick cleaning. As you may have noticed, chimney caps are described as having either 3/4" or 5/8" mesh. I recommend contacting a chimney sweep in your area. We specialize in the sale, service and installation of high-quality: * Stoves and fireplaces, If you're interested in maintaining a copper cap's original color, you'll have to clean it regularly and continuously reapply protectant. Chimney caps are a small, but important, accessory for your chimney. However, they are also some of the least durable. What May be Hidden or Stuck in Your Chimney? When it comes to capping, it's important to make sure you select a cap designed to work with a single-wall metal pipe. Similarly, homeowners living in areas with particularly dry climates would benefit from using this kind of chimney cover. That translates into wasted energy and, of course, wasted money. Copyright 2022 Online Stores, Inc. All Rights
Shipping rate calculated in the Cart before payment. Why Should You Trust Your Chimney to a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep? What are NCSG and CSIA Certification Requirements, and Why Should Homeowners Care? Masonry chimneys with a single flue might require a square, rectangular, round, or oval cap depending on the flues shape. They're among the most prevalent and come in square, rectangular, round, and oval varieties. Most are simply painted black and feature very basic, utilitarian designs. A chimney cap prevents water from entering the chimney. How do you know if a flue stretcher would help you? Some areas, particularly those in or near woodlands, have building codes that require all chimney caps to have 1/2" spark arrestors. There are, however, several other types of chimney caps. Cooper chimney caps will be the most expensive, but they offer a different look with a higher threshold of aesthetic to the exterior of your home. And, they require essentially no maintenance. Blockages are incredibly dangerous and if your chimney cant channel air in and out, youre at risk for a chimney fire. Draft-increasing chimney caps, as their name suggests, improve drafts, forcing the smoke inside the chimney to move upward. Their design forces wind around their tops rather than allow it through their openings. Reserved. 1-866-667-8454, Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales. The animals often get stuck; and they sometimes die, which creates an awful odor. Basically, you have two choices. A copper cap can easily cost almost four times as much as a comparable galvanized steel model and twice as much as a stainless steel one. * Service & replacement parts. Chimney caps come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match the exterior of your home. They possess better corrosion resistance than caps made of galvanized steel but are significantly less sturdy. Brick and stone chimneys are called masonry chimneys. This kind of chimney features a single flue that is completely flush with its crown. Is Chimney Sweeping a Profession for Women? When the screen is obstructed, the oxygen needed for the fire is cut off, which means the fire could be much more difficult to light, and it wont burn properly. Its dangerous to deal with a wild animal, since they can carry various diseases, including the deadly rabies virus. Then there are chimneys that dont fall into either category that are specially constructed. How to Hire a Chimney Sweep Dont Get Burned, Buyer Beware of Phone Chimney Sweep Offers. When trees, other parts of your home, or nearby buildings are taller than your chimney, your chimney may fail to develop an ambient updraft and smoke can be forced back down your chimney. After high winds, debris and leaves can clog a chimney cap. In terms of appearance, though, aluminum caps have an edge over galvanized steel ones. The optional mesh screen will limit the chance of birds, animals, leaves, and other unwanted debris from plugging up your chimney. In the absence of wind, Vacu-Stacks provide a more than adequate passage for exhausting flue gases. Is there a particular type recommended for oil-burning furnaces? The flues for your upstairs and downstairs fireplaces are adjacent to one another and smoke comes out of the fireplace on the lower floor when you have a fire in the one upstairs.This is caused by the negative pressures inside your house. Friendly Fires is one of Canadas largest fireplace, and barbecue retailers. Vacu Stack Anti Downdraft Cap (4): ICPVSS-4, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap (5): ICPVSS-5, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap (6): ICPVSS-6, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap (8): ICPVSS-8, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap with Rain Seal (6): ICPVSS-6RS, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap with Rain Seal (7): ICPVSS-07RS, Vacu Stack Anti-Downdraft Cap with Rain Seal (8): ICPVSS-8RS, There are no moving parts to bind or malfunction, The optional rain seal will help protect the top insulation of an insulated chimney. The style of chimney you have matters when it comes to picking out a cap. If you want a chimney cap with a crisp, clean look, stainless steel is probably the way to go. If you're interested in using one for your masonry chimney, make sure you select one that can be used with an adaptor. These products act as both a chimney cap and a draft inducer and feature adjustable electric fans that allow you to directly control your draft. Other animals are also known to access uncovered chimneys, such as raccoons, snakes, and squirrels. So, what's the difference then? Try our Chimney Wizard today! Due to the wide variation in chimney dimensions, outside-mount caps are often made to order, but it is possible to find stock models. Just make sure that the model you select is at least five inches taller than your tallest flue. Plus, because copper is heavier and generally stronger than stainless steel, copper caps are often considered to be the sturdiest option when it comes to flue coverings. Chimney caps are most commonly manufactured from galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. A professional cleaning by one of our licensed, certified chimney sweeps will take care of all issues connected with a clogged chimney cap. The unique design of the Vacu-Stack gives excellent protection from downdrafts caused by wind, where other devices often fail. Soot can also clog the mesh on a chimney cap. The small 1/4" mesh is not recommended for a screen on a wood burning appliance chimney. The smallest that the mesh can be is 5/8" with most screens having a 3/4" mesh. When mesh netting is installed with the cap, animals are prevented from entering the chimney. Caps with 3/4" mesh cannot meet this standard, so people living in locations with these laws needed an alternative, hence the 5/8" mesh chimney cap. Improper wood practices like burning pine or improperly-seasoned wood with a moisture content greater than 20 percent would cause this problem, but so would building smoldering fires. These function the same way as double-wall air-insulated pipes do, they just have three walls instead of two. It's very easy to tell if you've got this kind of venting system because liners are softer and more flexible than another metal venting. Chimney caps protect the interior of your chimney to ensure a long lifespan and prevent expensive repairs. If you have draft issues related to air inversion or the chimney top pressurization that can occur when your chimney is surrounded by tall objects, you'll have to seek out other solutions. Installing a chimney cap can block some of the wind and help your chimney's draft remain constant. Single-Flue Chimneys without Extended Flues. Now that you understand why a chimney cap is a necessary investment, you're probably ready to make a purchase. These chimneys come from kits that a homeowner can assemble for products like wood-burning stoves. Copper chimney caps are also extremely durable. Both models provide excellent weather and animal protection, and one variety doesn't provide better updraft than the other. Strong gusts can cause the draw of your fireplace or stove to fluctuate rather than remain at a continuous, steady rate. Outside-mount chimney caps fit over the crown and attach to the body of the chimney. An uncapped chimney is also much more likely to suffer weather damage. Most masonry chimneys have some kind of flue. If your masonry chimney has a flexible metal liner, youll need to get a cap thats slip-on. Tips for Upgrading Fireplace Efficiency and Appearance, Chimneys and Wet, Snowy Winters Arent a Good Mix, Chimney Woes A Drafty Fireplace or Wood Stove. 4" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 5" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 6" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 6" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, 7" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, 8" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 8" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, Your email address will not be published. Once a galvanized chimney cap's zinc coating becomes compromised, it's only a matter of time before it rusts and will need to be replaced. Annual inspections are important, even for people who dont use their fireplaces frequently during the winter. Your chimney cap's installation manual will tell you what kind of sealant or adhesive you should look for. Similarly, a triple-wall metal chimney pipe requires one specifically built for that style.
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