The Chimney Cap: Having One Can Save You Thousands

By Author: Jonathan Steele
Total Articles: 8
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Did you know that a chimney cap costing between $80 and $125 can save you thousands of dollars. If you can work off a ladder, have basic handyman skills, and know how to operate a screw driver, then this is a DIY chimney repair job you can get on top of and save.

Having a chimney cap can save you from another surprise. Many municipalities are requiring home owners to have one to pass inspection prior to the sale of the house. Home inspectors look at this as a sign that there may be hidden problems that need further checking. Problems that can be prevented with a chimney cap.

So when it comes time to sell your real estate investment, you may find your value is less than you hoped for the want of a simple repair. There is a more valuable risk you could be exposed to. The damage that can come from the environment can adversely affect the health of you and your family. A cracked liner can allow dangerous gases to enter the home. In addition to fire risk, the gases can cause sever health problems.

Chimney caps protect the inside of the chimney, commonly called the liner. The moisture from rain and ...
... snow can cause the liner (or chimney if there is no liner) to break down prematurely. This process takes time, even years because the liner is so much thicker. So by putting it off, some day in the future, you will be faced with a major bill to replace the liner in your chimney.

An uncapped chimney also poses another problem. It is an open invitation to unwanted tenants moving in and settling down. These unwanted guests are of the winged and four legged variety. When they build their new summer home in your chimney, you may not notice until it becomes heating season. The visitors nests or habitation can block the chimney increasing the risk of a chimney fire. At the least, most home owners will not suspect this and have to pay for a service call to find out why the furnace does not work.

At other times they may move in when they discover the warmth. Unfortunately, they may be overcome by the gases and die a needless death. All of this can be prevented by the installation of a chimney cap.

How do you know what kind of cap you will need? Caps for chimneys come in many different styles and sizes. To determine what style is best for your application you will first need to know what kind of chimney you have. Many home centers sell chimney caps. Better prices can be found online.

They come in galvanized steel, painted galvanized steel and stainless steel. Unless your looking for decorative features, the stainless steel is perhaps the best value. It will virtually last the life of the house.

If you have a masonry chimney determine if you have a single flue or a multiple flue.

If you have a single clay liner sticking out of your masonry chimney, measure the top of the clay liner. These dimensions will determine what size cap will be needed.

If you have multiple clay liners coming out of the chimney top, you will need to determine the dimensions for a multi-flue cap. Any online or brick and mortar site will be able to help you fill your needs.

With this information you will be ready to start shopping and saving.

To install, simply set the chimney cap over the terra-cotta chimney liner. Then tighten the screws (usually four) on each side equally.

If the liner does not come through the chimney top, then an additional top plate will be needed. Once it is installed then the cap will install in the same manner as above.

You will find this to be an easy job. Like insurance, you may never appreciate it till you need to use it. With this simple DIY chimney repair completed, you will save yourself from paying thousands of dollars in repairs.

Have fun with your project.
Jonathan Steele, master of several trades is a masonry contractor, consultant to the industry and a public speaker. Having used traditional masonary chimney systems, he now advocates and lectures on stainless steel chimney liners.

You can find out more about stainless steel chimneys and chimney caps at Chimney-Liner-Central

http://www.ChimneyLinerDepot.com is the Do It Yourself Chimney Repair Website

Find more about Jonathan Steele at Speechmastery.com