A fireplace and chimney add a great element of aesthetics and decor to a home or property, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Actually, more than half of everything that makes the chimney work is behind the scenes. Every part of the chimney works together to keep it working properly. This means it must vent the byproducts and vapors from the fireplace, while keeping moisture from the outside from penetrating the chimney system.
Chimney Caps: An Inexpensive Preventative Measure
If you’ve recently acquired an older property, it may not have a chimney cap. In fact, older generations often insist that chimney caps aren’t needed at all, but this just isn’t the case. Chimney caps are an inexpensive product that can save you money in the long run when installed correctly and maintained. The primary function of the chimney cap is to keep the outside environment out, and keep in the hazardous debris from the fire.
Keep Weather Out
The climate in Northern Vermont and in New England is far from mild. During any given burning season a homeowner can expect heavy rain, snowfall, and freezing temperatures throughout the season. The chimney cap, when fitted and installed correctly, should keep rain, snow, and even sleet or hail out of the chimney.
Keep Wildlife Out
During the winter months there are numerous types of small animals that seek shelter in chimneys. They are drawn to the warm and safe space, and often end up dying in chimneys because of the heat and vapor inhalation they experience. If an animal becomes stuck in a chimney and dies, it’ll result in a foul odor through the chimney system and even the house. The animal will need to be removed by a professional, and the chimney cleaned properly before use. This will end up costing more than a chimney cap would have, and will also require the chimney to be cold, meaning the home may be cold.
Keep the Fire In
As a fire burns hot in a fireplace, the vapors rise faster up the chimney. If the fire burns hot enough, sparks from the firebox can actually move up the chimney. If there isn’t a cap at the top of the chimney these sparks can fly out of the chimney and ignite nearby debris not he roof or even in the yard nearby the house or structure.
It might be easy to overlook something you don’t see all of the time, but it’s important to maintain all parts of the chimney system from top to bottom. If your chimney doesn’t have a cap it can allow moisture into the chimney that will wreak havoc on your masonry chimney or damage caused from animals or debris, which will have to be removed, cleaned, and possibly repaired.
Don’t let your chimney go another season without a chimney cap. A little prevention today will save your headaches, money, and time later. Contact Brickliners today to schedule your appointment.
