Just like every house needs a roof, every chimney needs a cap. Chimney caps are protective coverings usually made of stainless steel, galvanized steel, or copper. Most chimney caps have a mesh screening that serves as both a spark arrestor and barrier.

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What Does a Chimney Cap Do?

Chimney caps seal out rain, sleet, and snow. Imagine how much water would come into your home during a rainstorm if you had a 12-inch hole in your roof. All that water would run down your chimney and seep into bricks and mortar, settling behind the firebricks. And if your chimney gets wet, it stays wet since there’s no sunlight and little air circulation inside. Because water is the biggest cause of damage to chimney masonry, you’ll want to ensure that you keep water out of your flue to protect your chimney and fireplace from deteriorating.

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Chimney caps also prevent blockages caused by leaves, twigs, and other debris that might otherwise enter your flue. And they help eliminate wind-induced downdrafts, making it easier to keep that fire or furnace burning.

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It’s important to remember that chimney caps, also known as “spark arrestors,” are as valuable for what they keep inside the chimney as for what they keep out. We’re talking about sparks and embers, which you wouldn’t want to escape onto your roof. The mesh that wraps around your chimney cap will ensure the sparks from your chimney don’t get out and start a fire on your rooftop.

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Why Should You Have a Chimney Cap?

• Keeps out rain, snow, and sleet.

• Keeps out animals and birds.

• Keeps out leaves, twigs, and other debris that could start a fire or cause a blockage.

• Keeps sparks from leaving the chimney and igniting nearby combustibles.

• Helps eliminate wind-induced downdrafts.

 

Which Chimney Cap Is Right for You?

Chimney caps are made from a variety of materials. The most common are galvanized, stainless steel, and copper. Stainless steel caps are guaranteed against rust and have the best chance of lasting a long time.

The best chimney caps will stand up to severe weather, heat from your fireplace, and animals.