Over our years of working on chimneys in the Shenandoah Valley, Blue Ridge Chimney Services have seen a lot of chimney damage that could have been prevented if the chimney had been capped.
Without a chimney cap on top, the chimney is vulnerable to several things that can lead to expensive and extensive damage and deterioration. When we hear customers ask why they should bother with a chimney cap, we ask them if they would rather bother with water leaks and animal invasions. To best protect your chimney, you need a good quality chimney cap professionally installed on its top. We would like to tell you more about the many functions of a chimney cap.
PREVENT WATER LEAKS
Called the least expensive way to prevent water penetration of a chimney by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), a chimney cap is necessary to keep water from rain and melted ice and snow out of your chimney. If you have no chimney cap, your chimney is an open hole on your roof where water can easily enter to cause damage to the bricks, mortar, and metal components of your chimney.
KEEP OUT BIRDS AND WILD ANIMALS
To stop your chimney from becoming a nesting spot for birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals, you need a chimney cap that is equipped with mesh metal sides on top of your chimney. These mesh metal sides will prevent these critters from getting into your chimney. Since more and more trees are being cut down for construction and development, birds and wild animals are choosing to nest in chimneys. A chimney cap is one of the few things that can stop that from happening to your chimney.
STOP HOT SPARKS AND EMBERS FROM JUMPING OUT OF THE TOP
The mesh metal sides that keep birds, squirrels, and raccoons out of your chimney also prevent hot sparks and embers from jumping out of the chimney to ignite a fire on your roof or in your yard. You will greatly reduce your risk of an accidental fire with a chimney cap that also serves as a spark arrestor.
IMPROVE CHIMNEY DRAFT
To help the wind create a good draft inside your chimney, we suggest installing a chimney cap that has vents on its sides that will direct the wind to pull exhaust gases out of your chimney. If you have problems with a smoky chimney, this type of chimney cap can really help you.
As you can see, a chimney cap is a very important component of your chimney and venting system. Contact us at Blue Ridge Chimney Services to learn more about our chimney cap sales and installation services.