Multi flue caps
A larger cap that covers the entire crown and every flue under it keeps several flues covered under one lid.
Chimney Parts
Chimney Cap Installation Sewickley, PA
A Sewickley chimney sweep can measure your flue and install a chimney cap that keeps rain, birds, raccoons and leaves out while letting smoke escape. Dial (412) 663-3115 to talk with a local chimney pro about a cap.
A chimney with no cap lets in water, debris and animals every day of the year. 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.
The cap itself is a simple part: a solid top to shed water, mesh sides to block animals and a base that fastens to the chimney. The crown seals the top of the brick, while the cap protects the opening of the flue itself.
Choosing a cap comes down to the shape of the chimney and what it vents. 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.
Chimney Cap Installation is often paired with chimney crown repair and chimney animal removal, depending on the cause.
Looking for Sewickley chimney cap installation? Call (412) 663-3115 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney cap installation works
A cap that fits well and is fastened properly will stay on through years of wind.
Clear the flue
The sweep checks that the flue is clear of nests and debris before closing it in. An occupied flue gets handled before capping.
Measure the flue
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.
Choose the material
The cap is matched to the chimney, the appliance and the look of the house. The appliance using the flue affects the choice.
Inspect the top
A cap needs a solid base, so the crown and tile are inspected. Small cracks can be sealed before the cap goes on.
Secure it
The cap is attached firmly so wind and animals cannot pry it loose. Raccoons can pull off a loose cap, so it is set tight and checked before the sweep leaves the roof.
What is included
Chimney cap options
Damper caps
A combined cap and damper closes the flue at the top which helps where the throat damper is worn out.
Animal guard mesh
A heavy mesh screen blocks animals from nesting in the chimney while letting smoke and gases out.
Flue tile caps
Caps made for a single flue that clamp or screw onto the tile for the typical one flue chimney.
Copper caps
Copper caps last a long time and weather to a natural patina without staining the brick below.
Related service
Chimney Cap Replacement Sewickley, PA
An old cap can fail in ways that are easy to miss from the ground. Look for rust stains on the crown, a tilted lid or gaps in the screen. A replacement in stainless steel or copper usually ends the cycle of rusting caps.
Homeowners in Sewickley often find out about a failed cap when water or an animal shows up in the fireplace. It helps to tell the sweep whether the chimney has one flue or several and what is vented through it. The sweep can also check whether anything got into the flue while the cap was missing.
Related service
Spark Arrestor Installation Sewickley, PA
Spark arrestors are screened caps that trap glowing embers inside the chimney. Fire standards like NFPA 211 call for mesh openings of roughly three eighths to one half inch, which balances ember control with airflow. Check with your local fire department, since some areas require arrestors on wood burning chimneys.
A screen that clogs with soot can push smoke back into the house, so the mesh should be checked during sweeping. Smoke rolling back into the room can be a sign the screen is blocked. A Sewickley sweep can clean the mesh or replace a screen that has rusted through.
Local help
Chimney Cap Installation Near Me
Around Sewickley, the top of the chimney is the most exposed part of the house, and uncapped flues collect water and wildlife. In Sewickley and places nearby like Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, squirrels, raccoons and birds treat open chimneys as easy shelter, so a solid cap is one of the simplest ways to protect the flue.
Need chimney cap installation around Sewickley? Call (412) 663-3115 for a Sewickley chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Sewickley is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Sewickley
Chimney sweeps in Sewickley know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney cap installation
Can a cap go on if there are birds in the chimney?
Chimney swifts are a protected migratory bird, so their nests cannot be removed while they are in use. A chimney sweep can identify the bird and tell you when the flue can be cleared. Once the birds have left for the season, the flue can be cleaned and a cap installed to keep them from returning.
How often do chimney caps need to be replaced?
A good stainless steel or copper cap can last as long as the chimney itself in many cases. Cheaper galvanized steel caps rust out faster, and flue gases from some appliances speed that up. A quick check at each chimney sweeping catches damage early.
What is the difference between a chimney cap and a chimney crown?
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. Each protects a different part, so both should be in good shape.
Why should I put a cap on my chimney?
A cap keeps rain, snow, leaves and animals out of the flue, which protects the damper, the masonry and the inside of the chimney. Water damage and animal nests are two of the most common chimney problems, and both are largely prevented by a cap. Most chimney sweeps recommend a cap on every flue.
Will a cap make my fireplace smoke?
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. Cleaning or resizing the cap usually fixes it.
More questions? Call (412) 663-3115
Often needed together
Chimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Removing birds, raccoons, squirrels and nests from the flue, smoke shelf and damper, and cleaning up what they left behind.
Learn moreChase Cover Replacement
Installing new stainless or copper chase tops with sloped tops and drip edges that shed water.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn more
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