Most homes have chimneys, so owning one is not special, but being able to maintain one is. Metal and brick fireplaces can be considered dangerous when they are not taken care of properly. A chimney system is a direct tunnel to the outside air and your home. What is in your chimney is essentially inside your home simultaneously. Water can work its way into masonry fireplaces, cracking the brick. Animals such as squirrels, birds, and even bats, can make nests inside your chimney. Foliage, debris, and heavy rain inside your chimney can lead to the formation of mold or mildew. What if I told you these problems could be easily deterred with one simple step? Installing a chimney cap. It’s true! Installing a chimney cap is an easy way to prevent objects and materials from entering your home.
Animals
Animals are one of the most common issues that we encounter on chimney inspection. The cap is a metal top, and a mesh screen over the top of the chimney, to keep animals out. Birds, like the chimney swift, are widely known for their uncanny ways of making nests in your chimney. You do not want these in your chimney! Animal droppings are acidic and sulfurous, once mixed with soot it can cause cracks in the brick and respiratory health issues. Sadly, once an animal makes its way in your chimney, it usually gets stuck and dies. We practice humane animal removal because we care about the well-being of the animals and are against any cruel treatment.
Moisture Control
Chimneys are on the top of the roof, so weather damage is inevitable in some areas. Heavy rainfall, tropical storms, and hurricanes are the leading causes of brick resurfacing and water leaks. Water damage is important to pay attention to because it can damage other areas of your home. Moisture can enter the flue lining any time it rains without a chimney cap. Water can eventually get into the home as it trickles down the masonry. Over a prolonged amount of time, water is corrosive. In areas where water can reach colder temperatures, it can freeze and expand, causing cracks in the brick structure. If water or moisture is continuously exposed to materials like metal from a prefabricated fireplace, rust can form. If moisture is trapped within a brick chimney, mold or mildew can form, causing foul odors inside the home and fireplace.
Saving Money
We do not want any of the problems to happen to you, and we do not want you to end up having to pay a lot of money to fix it! If water damage is not noticed in the early stages, it can cause major damage over a long period of time. We have the experience, our technicians know what to look for, and how to professionally install a chimney cap to protect your home from damage. Installing a chimney cap is much less inexpensive than getting a chimney rebuilt because it was ruined by water! Without a chimney cap, all you will have at the top of the flue is an empty hole. Not having a chimney cap on your chimney is like leaving your front door wide open- it provides a way directly inside your home for unwanted animals, rain, and debris.