Chimney Caps

Five Reasons to Install Chimney Caps

While you may not be intimately familiar with the anatomy of your home’s fireplace or chimney features, a chimney cap plays an important role in your home’s chimney system and your home's wildlife management toolbox. Here are five reasons every chimney needs have a working chimney cap.

  1. Keep moisture out– A chimney cap will keep rain water from coming down your home’s chimney. Rain water can damage chimneys with stainless steel liners, chimney dampers, and chimney mortar joints. Beyond the damage from the water itself, moisture from rain water can produce mold and mildew.
  2. Keep out animal invaders– Animals like squirrels, raccoons and birds often try to make their homes within chimneys. A professionally installed chimney cap sized properly will prevent animals from entering the chimney.
  3. Prevent wind-induced downdrafts– If the wind is blowing in a certain direction, it can introduce a downdraft. If you don’t have a chimney cap and you’re using a wood-burning fireplace at the time, a wind-induced downdraft has the potential of blowing smoke back into your home. The flat-shaped top of a chimney cap is designed to help prevent wind-induced downdrafts.
  4. Prevent embers and sparks– Some people refer to chimney caps as spark arrestors, which basically means that the chimney cap helps prevent lit embers or sparks that travel up the chimney from landing on roof, possibly catching it on fire.
  5. Prevent debris build-up– Leaves, branches, twigs and other debris can enter a chimney and build up if a chimney cap is not in place.