If you’re wondering what that thing is on top of your masonry chimney, you’re not alone. A chimney cap may seem like some sort of simple decoration, but it provides significant functionality for your chimney in several ways. Here’s a quick look at chimney caps and what Rochester homeowners need to know about them.
The Essential Guide to Chimney Caps: What Homeowners Should Know
- Spark Arrester: A spark arrester is a screen that is part of the chimney cap for safety, preventing sparks from leaving your chimney. This prevents fires in leaves, roofing material, or your yard, while still allowing air to flow into your chimney and smoke to flow out smoothly.
- Water Barrier: The little roof helps prevent water from entering your chimney. Why is this important? Water in your chimney can cause freeze/thaw damage, or it can mix with soot to create acidic residues that can cause damage. You can also have damage to your floors and interior in severe weather.
- Animal Barrier: Animals such as birds, squirrels, bats, and other small creatures can become stuck in chimneys and die, which is unpleasant in many ways and a very sad occurrence. Your chimney cap blocks animals from entering the chimney, preventing this issue.
- Debris Arrester: The draft that can occur around a chimney can draw in leaves, twigs, and other debris, which you don’t want to drop down your chimney. These flammable items could cause a chimney fire or block smoke, impacting your indoor air quality and preventing your fire from burning cleanly.
Signs that the chimney cap in your Rochester home may be out of place or not functioning properly include water or debris in your fireplace, or being able to see visually that the chimney cap is no longer in place, which can be done from the ground in most cases.
By understanding how important your chimney cap is to your chimney’s performance and safety, you can ensure that it’s functioning normally and will help protect your investment in your home. If you need help with chimney cap installation or repair in your Rochester home, or if you have other fireplace and chimney needs, the experienced professionals at Four Winds Chimney are ready to help. Contact us today to get started!