Keep Rain, Animals, and Debris Out of Your Chimney
Starting at Free Estimate
A chimney cap is one of the simplest, most cost-effective investments you can make to protect your home. This small metal covering sits on top of your chimney flue and acts as a barrier against rain, snow, animals, leaves, and other debris. Despite its simplicity, a chimney cap prevents thousands of dollars in potential damage every year.
Here in Northern New Jersey, our weather is particularly hard on chimneys. Heavy rain in spring and fall, snow and ice in winter, and wildlife year-round all pose threats to an uncapped chimney. Raccoons, squirrels, and birds frequently nest in open chimneys, creating blockages that can trap dangerous gases inside your home.
Installing a chimney cap offers multiple layers of protection for your home:
Water is your chimney's worst enemy. Rain entering an uncapped chimney soaks into the flue liner, mortar joints, and brickwork. During Northern NJ's freezing winters, this water expands as ice and cracks the masonry from the inside out. A chimney cap with a properly designed drip edge keeps rain and snow out of the flue while allowing smoke and gases to escape freely.
An uncapped chimney is an open invitation to wildlife. Raccoons, squirrels, chimney swifts, and other animals see your warm, sheltered chimney as the perfect nesting spot. Animal nests block the flue, creating dangerous carbon monoxide buildup. The mesh screening on a quality chimney cap keeps all animals out while maintaining proper airflow.
The mesh screen on a chimney cap also serves as a spark arrestor. When burning wood, embers and sparks can rise up the flue and land on your roof or nearby vegetation. The cap's screen catches these sparks before they can cause a fire. This is especially important for homes in wooded areas of Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties.
Wind-induced downdrafts push smoke and cold air back down into your home. Certain chimney cap designs, particularly wind-directional caps, help eliminate this annoying and potentially dangerous problem.
We start by inspecting your chimney top to determine the right cap size and style. We take precise measurements of your flue tiles and chimney crown. Then we recommend a cap that fits your specific chimney configuration, fuel type, and budget. Installation is typically completed in under an hour and includes securing the cap with appropriate fasteners to ensure it stays put through NJ's strongest storms.
A chimney cap is a small investment that pays for itself many times over. Call Santa's Sweepers at (551) 227-7111 or get a free estimate online.