Top sealing caps
Some caps include a top sealing damper that closes off the flue when the fireplace is not in use which helps where the throat damper is worn out.
Chimney Parts
Chimney Cap Installation Clarendon Hills, IL
A Clarendon Hills chimney sweep can measure your flue and install a chimney cap built from stainless steel or copper and sized to the flue or the crown. Call (331) 301-3221 to reach a local chimney sweep.
An uncapped chimney is an open hole in the roof, and plenty of things find their way into it. Rain runs straight down the flue, where it rusts dampers, soaks the smoke chamber and mixes with soot to make a sour smell. Birds, squirrels and raccoons see the open top as a safe place to nest.
Caps are made of a lid that keeps precipitation out and wire mesh walls that let smoke and gases pass. It is not the same thing as the crown, which is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the masonry.
Not every cap fits every chimney, so sizing and style matter. A single flue cap clamps onto one flue tile, while an outside mount or multi flue cap covers the whole crown and every flue under it. Galvanized caps cost less up front but tend to rust, so stainless steel or copper is the longer lasting choice.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Clarendon Hills chimney sweep may also recommend chimney crown repair or chimney animal removal.
Dealing with this in Clarendon Hills, IL right now? Call (331) 301-3221 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney cap installation process
Putting on a cap is quick work, but measuring and checking come first.
Look inside
Before the cap goes on, the flue is checked for animals, nests and blockages. If birds are nesting, the timing of the job may change.
Take measurements
Measurements of the flue tile, or of the whole crown, decide which cap fits. A cap that is too small will not fit, and one that sits too low can restrict draft.
Pick the right cap
The cap is matched to the chimney, the appliance and the look of the house. Wood, gas and oil flues can each call for a different cap.
Check the crown
A cap needs a solid base, so the crown and tile are inspected. Crown repairs are easier to handle at the same time.
Secure it
A single flue cap is tightened onto the tile, and crown mount caps are fastened into the masonry. It should not wobble when pushed, and you will hear when the mesh should be checked for soot.
What is included
Chimney cap options
Wildlife screens
Screened sides stop wildlife from getting in and keep debris out too.
Stainless steel caps
Stainless and copper caps resist rust far better than galvanized steel which makes them worth the higher upfront cost.
Single flue caps
A cap that fits over one flue tile and fastens to it for the typical one flue chimney.
Full crown caps
A larger cap that covers the entire crown and every flue under it also protects the crown from direct rain.
Related service
Chimney Cap Replacement Clarendon Hills, IL
Plenty of chimneys already have a cap, but it may be rusted, bent or missing mesh. Look for rust stains on the crown, a tilted lid or gaps in the screen. Swapping to stainless or copper means the new cap should outlast the old one by years.
Homeowners in Clarendon Hills often find out about a failed cap when water or an animal shows up in the fireplace. Calling (331) 301-3221 with a few details, such as how many flues there are and what fuel you burn, helps the sweep plan the job. A flue left uncapped for a while is worth sweeping or checking for nests.
Related service
Spark Arrestor Installation Clarendon Hills, IL
A spark arrestor is the mesh screen on a chimney cap that stops burning embers from leaving the flue and landing on the roof or nearby trees. The NFPA 211 standard sets a mesh size that is small enough to stop embers but large enough not to clog quickly, about half an inch or a little less. Local fire rules in dry or wooded areas may require a spark arrestor.
Over time, soot collects on the screen, which is why sweeps check the mesh whenever the flue is cleaned. A smoky fireplace after years of good draft can point to a clogged screen. Cleaning or replacing the mesh restores the draft.
Local help
Chimney Cap Installation Near Me
Chimney caps in Clarendon Hills take a beating from wind, storms and the freeze and thaw cycles that come with the seasons. Homes in Clarendon Hills and nearby towns such as Westmont, Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook range from older brick chimneys that never had caps to newer ones with rusted galvanized caps, and a good cap pays for itself by keeping water and animals out of the flue.
For chimney cap installation in Clarendon Hills, IL or nearby towns like Westmont, Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook, call (331) 301-3221 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Clarendon Hills, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Clarendon Hills and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Cap Installation FAQ
Can a chimney cap cause draft problems?
Well fitted caps rarely cause draft trouble. Problems come from caps that sit too low, mesh that is clogged with soot or creosote, or a cap that is too small for the flue. A sweep can clean the mesh or switch to a better fitting cap.
Does my chimney really need a cap?
The main job of a cap is to keep water and animals out of the chimney. Water in the flue causes rust, crumbling mortar and odors, and animals can block the flue completely. Most chimney sweeps recommend a cap on every flue.
How long does a chimney cap last?
A good stainless steel or copper cap can last as long as the chimney itself in many cases. Galvanized and painted steel caps tend to rust within several years, especially near the coast or with oil fired appliances. Have the cap looked at during each sweeping, since wind and wildlife can loosen it.
What should I do if birds are nesting in my chimney?
Some chimney birds, especially chimney swifts, are protected, which limits what can be done during nesting season. A sweep can tell you what kind of bird it is and advise on timing. Capping after the birds migrate keeps the next season from repeating.
Is a chimney crown the same as a cap?
The crown is the slab of concrete or mortar that covers the top of the masonry around the flue. A cap is a removable metal hood that keeps water and animals out of the flue itself. A chimney needs both, and a cracked crown can leak even with a good cap.
More questions? Call (331) 301-3221
Other services that may help
Chimney Crown Repair
Sealing cracked chimney crowns or rebuilding crumbling ones, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Getting wildlife and debris out of the flue, smoke shelf and damper, then capping the top so they cannot return.
Learn moreChase Cover Replacement
Swapping out the metal cover on a framed chimney chase with sloped tops and drip edges that shed water.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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