What You Need to Know About Chimney Caps

Learn everything you need to know about chimney caps in less than 3-minutes, as explained by Master Chimney Sweep Robert Berry, Owner of Full Service Chimney™. Your trusted fireplace and chimney repair service company serving the Kansas City Metro since 1987.
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[@catistrolling7333]

Thx. I needed this

[@davek88]

I wish you were here in Canada! Your double cap looked fantastic!

[@FSCsweep]

Appreciate it. Thanks for watching!

[@citticat2]

I had my cap replaced 20 years ago because water was coming down the chimney. Now I can hear a noise with the wind and a guy wants $1,000 to examine the chimney and a replace the cap. Sounds expensive when I might beable to lubricate the cap instead.

[@dgr2215]

Great video. Very informative. Would you happen to know the standard size for replacemen wingnuts for the Chimney Cap Lid? I haven't been able to get up the roof in awhile and would like to have a few replacements ready. Thank you!

[@FSCsweep]

Thanks for your question! There are multiple manufacturers of chimney caps with the optional feature of bolt on lids. Having used many of them over the years, the most common size fastener size is 1/4 inch, by 20 thread. This is true regardless of the fastener being used is bolt, hex nut or as in your case, wing nut. (Having said that, the older I get, the more often I'm exposed to “I never saw that before”:) . Good Luck.👍

[@tomrusso3932]

I need a cap for a triple flue, I had recommendations from several chimney sweeps. Some recommended a cathedral type and others a rectangular cap, which would keep out the rain best? The broad side of the chimney faces north where the prevailing wind and rain comes from. My concern is that the rain would come in through the screen mesh.

[@catistrolling7333]

My house is 1875 and just brick - correct about stainless steel good point

[@andylee9973]

Hello, After you cap off your chimney with the metal sheet, can you cover the whole thing with concrete and then add primer and paint it, then use henry tropi-cool 100 % silicone for top off everything?

[@tctulloch]

Great info. One of the challenges I'm having is heavy windy rain getting into the flue, even with a cap on. So I'll have water building up in the clean out. Are there newer kinds of caps that help deal with this kind of issue?

[@FSCsweep]

Have a certified technician help you and look into your options for your specific setup. Look into Damper Caps that will allow you to fully control (open and close) the top damper from inside your home and that helps stop the rain, wind, pest, and cold air drafts. Also please note that LEAKS are often caused by a variety of other factors and the cap is not always the problem. Best of luck and thanks for watching friend!

[@tctulloch]

@@FSCsweep Thanks. I had a chimney pro take a look. He said the heavy wind driven rain is very problematic, but chimney the crown and cap is structurally sound. He recommended applying waterproofing to the top part of the chimney as a preventative to help the brick repel water instead of absorbing it.

[@mts7274]

Are there any water heater flue caps that help to 'increase' updraft? Or are they just all designed to keep stuff out of the flue and let warm air escape?

[@FSCsweep]

While there are some specialty caps that imply they can assist draft (usually suggesting that using wind, the cap will draw more) we found they never produce additional draft. Your assessment is correct: rain and animal protection plus the ability to allow exhaust to escape are the qualities of a proper cap.

[@mts7274]

@@FSCsweep Great thanks! It's likely I have negative pressure in my house maybe. If I open a window or door it seems like more smoke (fumes?) comes out the pipe on top of the roof.

[@FSCsweep]

@@mts7274 If you enjoy topics like "Negative Pressure", you may like our 2-part series on that... it's a few years old but very relevant and intense! Lots of illustrated information on the stack effect and neutral pressure plane, backdrafting, etc. fullservicechimney.com/fireplace-backdraft-chimney-downdraft-part-1/

[@ggggg4030]

My flues are almost the same height. But the basement flue sucks down the smoke from the living room. How do I fix that? TIA.

[@FSCsweep]

Hey there, sorry for the delayed response. There are plenty of issues that could contribute to fireplace smoking! It sounds like you need to get a technician out there to do an inspection! If you're in the USA, visit csia.org to search your zip code for a Certified Chimney Sweep near you. In the meantime we've got a few posts on our blog that explore in depth the problems with basement fireplaces, backdrafts/downdrafts, smoking, etc: • fullservicechimney.com/basement-fireplace-problems/ • fullservicechimney.com/fireplace-backdraft-chimney-downdraft-part-1/ Best of luck, Friend👍

[@LiveAndLearnWithMe]

How much a chimney cap replacement normally cost?

[@FSCsweep]

To answer your question, price depends on the product, the area and the chimney service company you use for services. If you're in the USA, then I'd visit csia.org to search your zip code for a Certified Chimney Sweep near you. Often, one way you can save on the expense of a new cap is to bundle the cap installation with your annual cleaning and inspection so you don't have to pay twice for the trip or labor time. Just remember that cap quality is important! We always recommend Stainless Steel Caps. If you decide to pay less for a cheap aluminum or one-size-fits all style cap, it will cost more in the long run in other damages to the chimney and the home. Here's an example of just one of the issues: fullservicechimney.com/roof-rust-and-your-chimney/

[@SolmonBrown]

Why don’t you tell the truth a cap will not stop all rain from coming down the chimney. Very few rain storms involve the rain coming straight down. In storms with high winds rain and hail with still enter the chimney

[@FSCsweep]

A cap helps prevent damages that are likely to occur to chimneys without a proper fitting cap.

[@ewhite75]

We create chimney caps that do keep the rain out. They do exist

[@aaronfagerstrom34]

Hahahaha. A chimney cap has very little to do with the longevity of a masonry chimney. I guess it sounds good though when you're selling chimeny caps