To protect your chimney from the damage and deterioration that occurs from water penetration, you should have a quality chimney cap installed on the top of the chimney. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) claims that a chimney cap is the least expensive preventive measure that you can use to stop water from leaking into your chimney and causing extensive damage and deterioration. A good chimney cap has other benefits such as keeping animals and birds from entering your chimney to nest as well as preventing sparks from jumping out of the chimney to ignite a fire on a roof or yard. At The Mad Hatter, we are often asked by our customers about the different types of chimney caps. Certain types of caps are best for different situations, and our trained chimney technicians are familiar with all of these types and will know which type would work most successfully for your particular chimney. We would like to tell you about the different types of chimney caps and what they do.
Standard Chimney Cap
Made from aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and copper, standard chimney caps are equipped with mesh screening on the sides to keep birds and animals out of the chimney and to trap sparks within the chimney. A standard chimney cap can also help increase draft when the weather is windy.
Draft Increasing Chimney Cap
If a standard chimney cap does not help draft issues, you can have a draft increasing chimney cap installed. This type of cap uses spinning turbines to create stronger updrafts. This type of cap is best used with stoves rather than fireplaces with open flames. You can also find this type of cap with electric fans built in to better control the draft.
Customized Chimney Cap
If you have an unusually shaped chimney, you may need The Mad Hatter to create a customized chimney cap to properly fit your chimney. Our chimney technicians will take exact measurements of your flue to give you the best protection from the customized chimney cap.
Top Mount Damper Chimney Cap
Looking to save money on your utility bills? This type of chimney cap has been proven to keep your chimney airtight and not allow heated or cooled air to escape your living space. The damper component on this chimney cap provides a tighter seal than a traditional throat damper.
Want to know more about the different types of chimney caps? Contact The Mad Hatter to learn more about which type is right for your chimney.