Chimney Caps: Picking one that is right for your chimney

Chimney Caps: 

Multi-Flue Entire Crown, Single Flue and Vacu-Stack

Chimney Caps:
  Highly recommended for all chimneys! Water is one of a home’s worst enemies.  A chimney is part of the home, so water is also a danger to that as well.  A chimney cap stops water from entering the chimney liner or flue by directing it away from the center and off the sides of a chimney.  If that water were to get into the chimney liner or flue, it could cause the rapid deterioration of the chimney and cause more problems that you would want to deal with.

  Also, We live in a place with a lot of trees nearby, you have seen what happens when those trees shake their leave from their branches in autumn.  You have probably been outside on a cold day raking those leaves out of your yard.  Imagine those leaves inside of your chimney.  Imagine sticks falling from tree that hover above your chimney or a random piece of litter that is blowing by on a windy day getting into your chimney.  The chimney has suddenly become a giant trash can.  Granted, most chimneys will not experience such heavy build up of debris.  However, it does not take much to start a chimney fire or hinder the draft of your chimney.  A chimney cap, along with the metal grating or mesh that wraps around the outside of it will stop debris such as this from entering your chimney.

  The next good reason is a chimney makes a great place for an animal to build its nest.  It is dark, warm and safe from other predators, save for the adventurous household cat.  The wire mesh or netting that wraps around the outside of the chimney cap will keep these critters out of your chimney.  An animal in your chimney may eventually make its way into your home.  Then, there will be another set of issues to deal with.

   We now know what the chimney cap can keep out of your chimney.  However, there is also something important that it keeps in the chimney as well.  That is, large sparks that make their way up the chimney flue.  These sparks, if hot enough, do have a chance of making it all the way out of the chimney and into a dry patch of grass or that pile of leaves that you worked so hard to rake out of your yard.  If this happens, then a brush fire may be imminent.  The wire mesh around the chimney cap will help keep these sparks contained until they die out.

  The fifth reason that a chimney cap should be installed on your chimney is that it can increase the draft within your chimney.  Regular chimney caps can help increase the draft on their own.  However, there are also draft-enhancing chimney caps that use turbines to increase the draft within a chimney.  Draft is an easily deterred, but critical occurrence to the proper functioning of your chimney.  Without it, in fact, the chimney would be useless.  Since draft is so easily affected, these draft-enhancing chimney caps can help create the draft within the chimney and, sometimes, solve the problems that someone is facing with chimney draft.

  One final reason to add a chimney cap is that it can increase the lifetime of your chimney liner.  Water and debris getting into the chimney liner can cause it to deteriorate, especially in chimneys with clay liners.  By adding a chimney cap, you are increasing the life and effectiveness of your Chimney Liner.

  All of these reasons for having a chimney cap installed on your chimney come together and help increase the overall life of your chimney.  For those worried about cost, basic chimney caps can be found at a pretty fair price.  The draft-enhancing chimney caps can be more costly.  Either way, it is cheaper to add a chimney cap now than to have to repair or replace a chimney liner down the road or hire a pest removal specialist to get the raccoon's out of your chimney.

Check out our entire line of chimney caps at Chimneycaps.net

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Multi-Flue Entire Crown Caps:

Copper Multi-Flue Crown Cap

For Multi-Flue And Entire Chimney Crown Protection

Flue Copper Chimney Caps are for homeowners who not only want to protect their homes, but make them ascetically pleasing as well. This classic Cap design complements the classy look of the copper - which is why this cap is our Top Pick!

The cap's screen mesh is 10" high. A copper plated stainless steel base make this an exceptionally constructed cap, sure to last. Screws are copper plated and guaranteed not to strip.

Designed to cover multiple flues, or for homeowners who have a single flue but want to protect the full chimney crown, the cap mounts directly to the chimney crown using cement fasteners and adhesive which are included with the cap.

This Copper Chimney Cap is the perfect accent for your home's exterior decor.

Lifetime Warranty! Warranted for a lifetime against manufacturing defects and rust. Choose your size below.

Also available in stainless steel

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Single Flue Caps:

Single Flue Cap

For Single Flue Protection

Tristan's Chimney Service Copper Chimney Caps are for homeowners who not only want to protect their homes, but make them ascetically pleasing as well. The classic Tristan's Chimney Service Copper Chimney Cap design complements the classy look of the copper. A 24 gauge lid, 18 gauge copper screen, and copper plated stainless steel base make this an exceptionally constructed cap, sure to last. Screws are copper plated and guaranteed not to strip. This Copper Chimney Cap is the perfect accent for your home's exterior decor.

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Vacu-Stack:

Vacu-Stack With Animal Guard

For Solving Down Draft Problems

is the premier chimney cap for solving common, wind-related draft problems. These problems often occur for homes that have hills, mountains, tall trees or buildings in the vicinity.

How it works: When wind flows around the Vacu-Stack's unique design, wind speeds increase which creates a partial vacuum. This vacuum then pulls flue gases up and out of the chimney, thus preventing wind-induced downdraft and the resulting infiltration of smoke, odor, and flue gas into your home.
  This cap also functions as a conventional chimney cap by protecting the chimney from rain, snow, debris, and animals. It is designed for round chimneys that are not air insulated (also called air-cooled). The Vacu-Stack can also be installed on a square or rectangular chimney using the Masonry Adaptor.

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Visit out chimney cap web site pick a number and Contact us today so your chimney with be critter free and stand up to the high countries harsh elements!

Chase Covers: What Is A Chimney Chase Cover and why do I need it

Chase Covers What Is A Chimney Chase Cover 

A proper Chase Cover is 26 gauge stainless steel or copper hood that covers the top of a chimney that contains one or more factory built, prefabricated fireplaces and their venting systems (chimneys). The Chase Cover should have a 4-inch down hang, closed and sealed corners, and incorporate a drip edge. The chimney pass-through should be extruded (pressed) into the main body of the Chase Cover. This eliminates leaking and allows room for expansion and contraction of the chimney as it heats and cools. In addition, a storm-collar and chimney cap are added at the time of the installation to insure proper water shedding.

A newly installed custom Chase Cover for a Pre-Fabricated Chimney

Available chases from Tristan's Chimney Service

Why Would A Chase Cover Need Replacing?

 Most chase covers installed at the time of original construction, were built of a very thin 30 gauge sheet metal, which was bent on the construction site, usually by hand. This resulted in a poor fitting cover that did not allow for expansion, contraction, or proper water shedding, causing excessive wear, rusting and leaking into the chase cover and ultimately the fireplace. What Makes Our Chase Covers The Best? Our Chase Covers are customized to fit your chimney’s exact specifications. We use highly trained stainless steel professionals to make our chase covers, specifically for the Chimney Department.

The Chase cover you see above is old, rusted and was installed by the original builder.

The new Chase Cover you see below is properly fitted to meet the exact measurements of the chimney.

 Benefits of a Properly Sized Chase Cover By providing proper water shedding of the chimney, a properly sized Chase Cover prevents water damage and discoloration (rust stains) of the wood chase and preserves the integrity and safety of your prefabricated (metal) fireplace. It also enhances the appearance of your home.

Why Should I get My Chimney Cleaned

Why Should I get my Chimney Cleaned?

 The job of the chimney sweep is to remove soot, blockages and built-up creosote from your chimney liner, firebox, smoke chamber and damper. This cleaning will help create a safer operation of your system during the heating system. It take only a small accumulation of creosote glazing to create the potential for a chimney fire. Creosote is a highly flammable substance that builds up inside your chimney or liner as a result of burning wood. The rate of accumulation can be higher if you practice poor burning practices or have a burning appliance or stove that is not working well. Different types of wood create different amounts of creosote when burned. Pine causes a rapid build-up of creosote and should be avoided as a regular source of wood. Creosote can also reduce the draw of the fireplace and reduce efficiency.

Chimney Inspections should be scheduled once a year.

To be sure that all of your systems are in working order and operating as they should, it is recommended that homeowners get an annual chimney inspection. Most homeowners opt to have a Chimney Cleaning done every year as well, especially if they use their fireplace on a regular basis. Other venting systems connected to furnaces and stoves should also be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain safer operation. Fireplace, stove, furnace and heating appliance systems are important to your home and families safety and not an area to neglect or cut corners on. Don’t risk the chance that an undiscovered defect could turn into an expensive repair or worse yet – a chimney fire.
If you only have minimal use of your fireplace or stove, an inspection is still advised annually to look at all heating venting systems, chimneys, stove systems and furnace flues. During these inspections any defects or issues that may be found that require action even if cleaning is not needed.
When you have a regular chimney sweep company that you use, they will generally put you on an annual inspection schedule. During these inspections they will advise you if it is time to sweep.

When Do I Need A Chimney Inspection?

If you haven’t had your chimney inspected in a year or more, if you are having any performance issues with your chimney, fireplace or heating system or if you have recently purchased the home you should schedule an inspection. Don’t wait – waiting almost always results in additional repairs, and unfortunately sometimes in property loss. Every year in the US homeowners lose over 200 million dollars as a result of continuing to use unsafe systems.
Another important time to get your venting systems inspected is when you have upgraded or changed heating systems or added a stove or insert. An inspection will make sure that your chimney, lining and venting systems are adequate and in working order to handle the new changes.
If you have not used your fireplace in a long time, pests may have built nests that could clog your flue or chimney chamber. Winter freeze cycles and moisture combine to take an annual toll on masonry and liner materials too. Over several years the deterioration will eventually require attention. Normal wear and tear that is left unchecked will affect the performance of your system. The longer the defects go without being addressed, the more expensive the repairs are likely to be. Bottom line is – staying on top of your systems is not only the smartest and safest choice, it ends up being the most cost-effective too.

How Often Should I get my Chimney Cleaned?

This depends a lot on how much you use your fireplace or stove. The National Fire Protection Association says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” So, even if you don’t use your chimney a whole lot – birds, squirrels, raccoons and other critters may have been using your chimney making it unsafe to use without clearing out the accumulated debris from nesting activity.
The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) says that fireplaces should be cleaned when 1/8″ of sooty buildup is evident inside the chimney and flue system. If any glaze is appearing in the flue, cleaning should be done even if there is less than 1/8″ of build up. Any time an appreciable accumulation of soot and creosote occurs it can be enough to fuel a chimney fire that may damage the chimney and even spread to the roof and home. Furnace flue systems also require cleaning, so don’t neglect regular cleaning of those venting systems.
Some heavy use fireplaces produce an incredible amount of soot and creosote during a cleaning. Recently we removed nearly 2 full 5 gallon buckets of material from one chimney! Removing this material is critical to continued safe use of the fireplace and reduced risk of chimney fires that start when this highly combustible material builds up to unsafe levels.

What is the Best Time to Clean my Chimney?

Ideally, before the start of the burning season during the summer or early fall is a great time to get your chimney inspection and / or chimney cleaning. Before you think about building a fire or starting up your furnace because the weather has changed, is the time to call your chimney sweep. Maybe you forgot the early cleaning before starting to use the fireplace, stove or furnace? Don’t wait until next year, we can do your chimney cleaning or inspection any time of year. Call the office now at 828-387-6153.