A Capped Chimney Offers Solutions To Common Problems

There are many things that can go wrong during the life of your chimney. If you’re lucky, and diligent about maintaining your chimney system, you can avoid hazards that shorten your chimney’s life. Ideally, it should last the life of your home with preventative care, annual maintenance, and necessary minor repairs.

One of the most common causes of a variety of chimney problems is a missing, damaged, or improperly installed cap. An uncapped chimney can cause a number of problems, drop efficiency, raise fire risk, and cost in major repairs in the long run. Problems caused from an uncapped chimney are 100 percent preventable.

Prevent Water Damage

When your chimney doesn’t have a cap to cover the flue opening, it leaves the flue wide open for rain water, snow, sleet, or hail to fall into the chimney freely. Once inside your chimney, rain water can cause rust, rot, spalling, deterioration, staining, and leaks that ruin your ceilings and wall coverings. Water penetration is the most damaging thing that can happen to your masonry chimney because water damages the chimney from the inside out unseen by the homeowner until the damage is extensive. Soot mixed with water also creates a highly corrosive material that can damage the chimney liner. All of this damage goes unnoticed for weeks or months until it’s noticed by the homeowner, or by a certified chimney sweep.

Prevent Wildlife From Nesting in Your Flue

In winter and spring, small critters search for warm, dry shelters to nest or hibernate. If the flue is uncapped, they have a fantastic space with an inviting entrance. Animals like squirrels and chipmunks may be able to get in and out without becoming trapped, but their climbing will most likely leave the flue liner scratched and damaged. Birds may build nests and raise their babies in your flue, leaving behind nesting debris when they leave. Any debris left in the flue by nesting wildlife will be flammable and can also obstruct airflow.

Prevent Sparks from Igniting Roof Debris

The metal mesh that protects the chimney opening doesn’t only keep debris and animals out of your flue. It also protects the roof from flying sparks. An especially hot fire can throw sparks and flames far up the chimney, even spitting sparks out the top of the chimney in some cases. If these sparks are able to leave the flue opening they can easily ignite leaves and debris on the roof, even dry grasses and shrubbery below. The best way to prevent this type of fire risk is keeping your chimney capped.

The first defense against chimney damage from top to bottom is a chimney cap. It’s a low-cost preventative measure that can save you a fortune in future damage. An added bonus to the chimney cap is that it raises efficiency. The design keeps wind gusts from affecting your fire and pushing smoke and odors into your home.

Your solution for a variety of chimney problems is a standard or custom chimney cap from Chimney Solutions. Call 317-757-6979 or request an appointment online to take the first step toward waterproofing your chimney system with a chimney cap now.

Chimney Solutions Indiana proudly serves the greater Indianapolis area with all your chimney and fireplace needs. Our mission is to provide quality and peace of mind to families by offering premier chimney solutions.