Shreveport Chimney Caps: Trust Us for Your Installation Needs

What Do Chimney Caps Do?

The cap sits on top of the chimney and is one of the best ways to protect and preserve your entire chimney system. Without a well-maintained chimney cap, you are bound to experience problems with at least one of the following:

• Rain, Sleet & Snow: Rain, sleet, and snow can have incredibly damaging effects on your chimney system, causing cracks, lime-leaching, efflorescence, spalling, corrosion, and various types of decay. In addition to destroying the appearance of your masonry, water can also completely compromise the structural integrity of your entire chimney system. A chimney cap will help protect your chimney from this type of damage.
• Wind & Downdrafts: The cap protects the chimney from large and direct gusts of wind that are common during a strong storm. When wind gushes down into your chimney, it can push smoke and hot ash back down your chimney and into your home. These gusts of wind can also infiltrate your conditioned air, dramatically decreasing room temperature and increasing your utility bills. By blocking these wind gusts, the cap helps you control the temperature of your home and keep draft and smoke problems at bay.
• Animal Invasion: When animals enter your chimney as a result of a missing or deteriorating cap, they bring flammable materials into your home. They also cause blockages within the flue, which can lead to overheating, chimney fires, appliance inefficiency, and smoke and carbon monoxide problems. And they’re loud, smelly, and can invite disease on top of it all. To add further complication, birds like the chimney swift are protected, and must be left alone until they leave of their own accord. Installing a chimney cap is your best protection against forced hosting of these birds and other animals.
• Debris Buildup: Yes, animals can bring in debris, but an uncapped chimney will also be prone to debris flying in on its own too. Leaves, sticks, grass clippings, and other buildup can work its way in on windy days, or if branches or vegetation are hanging over your chimney or growing nearby, this can cause items to fall into your flue, as well. Buildup in your chimney leads to fire hazards, blockages, damage, and more, so avoid further issues by getting a cap installed.
• Potential Roof Fires: Chimney caps can also serve as spark arrestors, ensuring any stray spark and embers don’t gain easy access to your roof. Between built-up leaf piles, stray sticks on your roof, and flammable roofing materials, a stray spark on your roof has potential to lead to a fire and lots of damage. But if a well-installed metal cap is in place, any sparks will simply hit the cap, then fizzle out.

What Type of Chimney Cap Do I Need?

Caps today are typically constructed of copper or steel, and are designed to fit virtually every size and style of chimney. Whether your home is modern or traditional, large or small, rest assured – there is a chimney cap to meet your needs. There are even chimney caps that are designed for high-wind areas.

Ask about which cap is right for you, where that’s a multi-flue cap, a full coverage chimney cap, a speciality cap, or something else.

To discuss the many chimney cap options on the market, please feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable staff members!

How Is a Chimney Cap Different From a Chase Cover?

A chimney cap and a chase cover serve similar functions, but they are different components and have their unique purposes.

• A chimney cap sits over the top of the chimney flue’s opening, working to prevent debris, animals, rain, and downdrafts from entering the chimney. Chimney caps should have a mesh screen around the sides to block animals from entering, while ensuring smoke and fumes have a pathway out.
• A chase cover is most commonly seen on prefabricated chimneys, and essentially serves as a metal chimney crown. It consists of a larger, flat metal cover that sits over the entire chimney chase. The chase cover prevents water from seeping into the chimney structure, which could cause rust or deterioration over time, while simultaneously sending water out and away from the sides of the chase. A chimney cap will then be installed over the chase cover, ensuring flue gases can still escape, but the flue will remain protected.

Reach Out Today

When it comes to protecting your chimney, trust the experts at New Buck. Our team is committed to providing top-quality chimney cap installations that keep your home safer and your chimney in peak condition, no matter the season. With our reliable service and durable chimney caps, you can have peace of mind knowing your home is protected from the elements and unwanted pests.

Contact us today to schedule – we’d be happy to hear from you. 

If your chimney crown is damaged, trust our chimney leak repair experts to get your chimney where it needs to be.