Chimneys have always been considered a wonderful thing within the house and office. Aside from the warmth and comfort they provide, they also add aesthetic beauty for even the simplest home. To protect your chimney from damage, it would be wise to add a chimney cap. Though they are not required for chimneys, they are strongly recommended by chimney professionals across the country. No matter how good your chimney happens to be, there is still a possibility that certain complications can occur if no cap is present. These factors include the chance of insects and animals, as well as rain, to get into the chimney and compromise the appliance.
A chimney cap is an essential component in each and every chimney. It functions primarily as a guard against water and critters that would get into the chimney. Water, over time, will compromise the integrity of the masonry, and begin to leak into your home. If water gets into the chimney liner, it could be the reason for the quick deterioration of the chimney, and may cause unexpected problems you wouldn’t want to deal with. It also keeps animals that will build a nest from taking up residence inside your chimney. If this does happen, the nest could catch fire, which could easily spread to the rest of your house.
Chimney caps come in different sizes and shapes. Some caps possess an integral damper mechanism. This is required for draft houses, or those with older chimneys that might be missing a damper mechanism. Although others are intended to not take away from the design of your home, others are meant to compliment it. Every potential function of the chimney cap, should be set out in equilibrium with each other to optimize the efficiency of energy and the flue’s structural integrity. Think about improving your fireplace and stove’s performance now by adding this much needed piece.