We Offer Chimney Caps & Custom Cap Installation for Every Flue

When homeowners all throughout Charlottesville want to keep animals, debris, rain, snow, and sleet out of their chimney flues, they call on The Chimney Guys. We install chimney caps and custom caps for every chimney.

Thanks to our 10+ years of experience in the field, we’re able to get the job done right the first time for you and your household.

The Many Functions of a Chimney Cap

Chimney caps serve multiple purposes, which is why sweeps recommend one for every chimney, no matter what type of chimney it is. It seems like such a simple, affordable device (and it is!), but it protects your home and chimney in more than a few ways. In fact, there are 5 main ways chimney caps work for you. Here are the facts behind it all:

1. Preventing Water Damage

The biggest thing chimney caps are known for is preventing water from entering your flue. It’s no secret that too much moisture in your chimney is a big reason for premature decay, damage, and crumbling. Your cap covers the opening, so that rain, snow, and sleet can’t go straight into it.

This is one area where your liner especially will thank you. A chimney that doesn’t have a well-functioning liner is a huge threat to your home, and a chimney cap is the main line of defense when it comes to keeping water out of it. Relining services aren’t cheap, either! Trust us – investing in an affordable cap now is definitely the better option.

2. Keeping Animals Out

Raccoons, squirrels, birds, and other critters like them are cute and fun to watch from a distance, but we’re guessing you don’t want them running (or flying) through your home. Unfortunately, chimneys are pretty hard for these guys to resist, especially when there’s nothing blocking them from entering.

What’s the appeal? Well, your strong, sturdy chimney provides a great place for animals to nest. It protects them from both bad weather and predators, and it’s cozy and warm as well. The problem is, they’re terrible roommates – they don’t pick up after themselves, they refuse to use the toilet, and once they’ve set up camp, convincing them to leave isn’t so easy.

Not to mention some creatures, like the chimney swift, are endangered. So messing with them or removing any young is actually illegal. If they were to nest in your chimney, your only option would be to wait for them to leave. Once they migrate, you can remove anything they’ve clogged your chimney with, but they’re sure to come back the following year.

What’s the best solution for avoiding all the stress and mess involved with animal entry? Invest in a chimney cap that keeps them out for good! We can help with that.

3. Blocking Downdrafts

Is smoke blowing into your living space every time you light a fire? Your chimney cap (or lack thereof) may have a role in this. With nothing blocking its path, air is free to swoop into your chimney whenever, bringing smoke in with it (if you have a fire going). Smoke in your home can affect the health of those within it, and it creates a lasting scent that’s hard to get rid of. Definitely something to avoid if you can.

You may also notice cold downdrafts entering when your fireplace isn’t in use. This is a big struggle when temperatures drop and you’re trying to keep your house as warm as possible. Not only does it send a chill through anyone in the space, but it causes your heating system to work overtime (thus shortening its lifespan and upping your monthly bills).

Both of these scenarios are frustrating and annoying to deal with, but a well-fitted cap could solve your problems for good. A solid investment.

4. Preventing Debris Buildup

We mentioned how much of a nuisance it is when animals bring in leaves, twigs, and the like, but sometimes these materials come in on their own, too. Windy days are known for sending all kinds of debris into open flues. These materials clog things up fast, making it dangerous for you to light fires in your fireplace.

A well-fitted chimney cap can keep your flue clean. And by keeping the flue clear of blockages and clogs, a chimney cap can also prevent smoky fireplace issues.

5. Acting As Spark Arrestors

From time to time, those especially active fires can send sparks and embers up your chimney, where they wind up landing on your roof. Now, if one of these were to land in a pile of leaves or grass that the wind blew onto the roof, you could find yourself facing flames in more places than just your fireplace.

If a cap is in place, it will stop those pesky sparks dead in their tracks, so you don’t have to stress.

One Small Investment With a Big Payoff

If you are at all concerned about the quality and fit of your chimney cap or if your chimney is missing a cap, then the sooner you act, the better. This is a classic example of investing in inexpensive services early on to avoid costly repairs down the line – always the better route.

We take care of homeowners throughout the greater Charlottesville area, so reach out to us at 434-481-3796 or request an appointment online at your next convenience. Your safety and comfort always come first with The Chimney Guys!

If you have a prefabricated fireplace unit, then professional chase cover installation may be the answer to your leaky chimney issues.