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.

Water Proofing and Your Masonry Chimney

Water and Your Masonry Chimney
The chimney is one of the most taken-for-granted parts of a home. Typically it tends to receive neither the attention nor the concern usually accorded other household service systems. The fact that chimneys may do their job reasonably well, even when abused or neglected, contributes to this atmosphere of indifference. Chimneys are far from the passive black holes that most people assume them to be. They perform several vital functions, and their simple appearance misrepresents their complex construction and performance requirements. A chimney deteriorated by constant exposure to the weather can be a potential safety hazard. Weather-damaged lining systems, flue obstructions and loose masonry materials all present a threat to residents. Regular chimney maintenance is essential to prevent damage, deterioration and future high-cost chimney repairs.
Masonry Chimneys
A masonry chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, concrete, concrete block, stone, flue tile, steel and cast iron. All masonry chimneys contain combinations of, or possibly all of, these materials, most of which are adversely affected by direct contact with water or water penetration.

Water Penetration
All masonry chimney construction materials, except stone, will suffer accelerated deterioration as a result of prolonged contact with water. Masonry materials deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze/thaw process, in which moisture that has penetrated the materials periodically freezes and expands causing undue stress. Water in the chimney also causes rust in steel and cast iron, weakening or destroying the metal parts.
Note: While most stone is not affected by water penetration, large amounts of mortar are required to bond the stone together properly. Therefore, a stone chimney – just like a brick chimney – should be protected from the effects of water penetration. Water penetration can cause interior and exterior damage to your home and masonry chimney including: • Rusted damper assemblies • Deteriorated metal or masonry firebox assemblies • Rusted fireplace accessories and glass doors • Rotting adjacent wood and ruined wall coverings • Water stained walls and ceiling • Clogged clean out area • Deteriorated central heating system • Stained chimney exterior • Decayed exterior mortar • Cracked or deteriorated flue lining system • Collapsed hearth support • Tilted or collapsed chimney structure • Chimney settlement In addition, when water mixes with creosote in a wood burning chimney system, it will generate a highly disagreeable odor that can permeate a home.

Preventing Water Damage
Chimney caps, also called rain covers, are probably the most inexpensive preventive measure that a homeowner can employ to prevent water penetration and damage to the chimney. Chimney caps have long been recognized as an important chimney safety and damage prevention component. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) specifies that any chimney lining system that is to be listed to their test standard must include a chimney cap.
Chimneys have one or more large openings (flues) at the top that can collect rainwater and funnel it directly to the chimney interior. A commonly-sized flue has the potential to allow large amounts of rain or snow into the chimney during just one winter when freeze/thaw cycles are common.
Chimney caps also provide other benefits. A strong, well-designed cap will prevent birds and animals from entering and nesting in the chimney. Caps also function as spark arrestors, preventing sparks from landing on the roof or other nearby combustible material.
A chimney cap should be easily removable to facilitate inspection and cleaning. For a long and effective service lifetime, a cap should be constructed of sturdy, durable and corrosion resistant material. Caps may be designed to cover a single flue, multiple flues, a large portion of the chimney or the entire chimney top. A full coverage chimney cap usually represents a larger initial investment. However, it is probably the best investment for long-term protection because of its ability to protect the entire chimney crown.
Repair or Replace a Damaged Chimney Crown
The chimney crown (also referred to as the chimney wash) is the top element of a masonry chimney. It covers and seals the top of the chimney from the flue liner to the chimney edge. The crown should provide a downward slope that will direct the water from the flue to the edge of the crown. The overhanging drip edge, by directing the run-off from the crown away from the chimney, helps prevent erosion of the brick and mortar in the chimney’s vertical surfaces.
Most masonry chimneys are built with an inadequate crown constructed from common mortar mix that is designed for years of weather abuse without cracking, chipping or deteriorating. A proper chimney crown should be constructed of a Portland cement-based mixture and cast or formed so it provides an overhang projecting beyond all sides of the chimney by a minimum of two inches. The flue liner tile should also project above the crown a minimum of two inches.
Repair Deteriorated Mortar Joints
Deteriorated mortar joints on the chimneys exterior are entry spots for water. Proper mortar joints have no gaps or missing mortar and are shaped in a way that directs water out of the joint. When mortar deteriorates from exposure to weather, it becomes much more absorbent. A common repair for deteriorated mortar joints is called repointing. In this process, the existing mortar joint is cut to an appropriate depth and the joint is repacked with new mortar. The joint is then cut to form a concave surface that will direct water out of the joint. A good repointing job, using proper materials, will give the chimney a much longer life span, and often will enhance its appearance.
Repair or Replace Flashing
Flashing is the seal between the roofing material and the chimney. Flashing prevents rainwater or snow melt from running down the chimney into living spaces where it can damage ceilings and walls and cause rot in rafters. The flashing is the expansion joint between two dissimilar materials. It is designed to allow both the roof and the chimney to expand and contract at their own rates without breaking the waterproof seal in either area.
Install a Cricket to Stop or Prevent Leaks
If the chimney is located on the low side of the roof where water run-off is directed against the chimney, the installation of a cricket will afford additional protection against water leaking into the home. A cricket is a water deflector that serves to direct rainwater away from the chimney. Crickets are recommended on chimneys more than 30-inches wide and they are especially important on steep roofs.
Waterproof Your Chimney
Most masonry materials are porous and will absorb large amounts of water. Common brick is like a sponge, absorbing water and wicking moisture to the chimney interior. Defective mortar joints or the use of improper mortar or brick can greatly increase the tendency to absorb and convey water to the interior of the masonry chimney.
Several products have been developed specifically for use as waterproofing agents on masonry chimneys. These formulas are 100% vapor permeable, which means that they allow the chimney to breathe. Therefore, water that has penetrated and the vapors produced when the chimney dries out or the water vapors produced during use are allowed to escape, while the waterproofing agent prevents water from entering from the outside. These products usually have a five- to ten-year warranty. Paint or clear sealers should never be used as a waterproofing agent because they will trap water vapors and moisture inside the chimney causing further deterioration.
Waterproofing is a preventive measure. When damage or deterioration (gaps, voids, cracks, missing mortar, etc.) already exists in a masonry structure, the chimney should be repaired before the waterproofing agent is applied. The chimney exterior may also need to be cleaned before the waterproofing material is applied. CONTACT US