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Does your chimney need a cap?

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Metal Chimneys – metal chimneys are used for wood burning stoves and pre-fab fireplaces; these chimneys have no where for water or snow to go, so most of them need a chimney cap. These chimneys are constructed of two or three layers of metal and if they are not capped, the moisture can get in between these layers; this moisture can damage the chimney and have you replacing or repairing it far earlier than anticipated.

Masonry Chimneys – masonry chimneys need to be taken on a case by case basis, with all of the pros and cons listed above being taken into consideration; every chimney is different and all factors should be taken into consideration.

Types of Chimney Caps (Material) – regardless of the material that your chimney cap is constructed from, it will have some type of screen around it to keep out small animals, birds and bats as well as keeping the sparks from your fireplace inside your chimney. It will be attached to your chimney according to the manufacturer’s specifications and these should be followed carefully to insure proper function of your chimney cap. Some of the most popular materials used for chimney caps are:

1. Stainless Steel

2. Black Painted Steel

3. Copper

4. Aluminum

5. Masonry

Stainless steel tends to be the best material and the generally preferred by most contractors due to its durability. Chimney caps have to be able to withstand all types of weather, not to mention the smoke and debris from your fireplace. The material you choose should be both resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel meets both of these requirements as it can handle exposure to rain, wind and smoke while keeping rust stains off of your roof.
Types of Chimney Caps (Function) – beyond materials, and the basic chimney cap, there are some chimney caps which are mad for specific functions. Your situation may require more than your standard chimney cap depending on your draft situation, your flue function, your particular chimney size and any number of other special situations. This is a list of some of those special function chimney caps, but it is by no means exhaustive:

1. Draft Increasing Caps/Vacuum Caps

2. Electric Draft Increasing Caps

3. Integral Damper Mechanism Caps

4. Custom Caps

Next Page: General Fireplace Safety

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