The $100 Part That Saves You $3,000: Why You Need a Chimney Cap

Look up at your roof. Do you see a metal covering on top of your chimney, or just an open hole? If it's an open hole, you are inviting significantly expensive problems into your home.

A chimney cap is arguably the single most important protective device you can install on your fireplace system. Here are the three critical jobs it performs 24/7.

1. It Keeps Water Out (The #1 Enemy)

Rain is a chimney's worst nightmare. When water enters an uncapped flue, it mixes with creosote (soot) to form an acidic paste that eats away at the mortar joints from the inside out. In winter, this water freezes and expands, cracking your chimney crown and bricks.

Repairing water damage—re-lining a flue or rebuilding a chimney crown—can cost $2,000 to $5,000. A properly installed stainless steel cap costs a tiny fraction of that.

2. It Stops Animal Eviction Dramas

To a raccoon, squirrel, or bird, your open chimney looks like a perfect hollow tree for a nest. We frequently remove:

• Chimney Swifts: Protected birds that, once nesting, cannot legally be removed until they migrate.
• Raccoons: Who can carry rabies and become aggressive when trapped.
• Squirrels: Who often fall in and can't climb back out, eventually entering your living room or perishing (and smelling) inside the flue.

A cap with a sturdy mesh screen creates an impenetrable barrier against wildlife.

3. It Prevents Roof Fires

When you burn wood, "sparks" (burning embers) naturally float up the flue. Without a cap (which also acts as a spark arrestor), these embers can land on your dry roof shingles or nearby dry leaves. In dry seasons, this is a legitimate fire hazard. The mesh screen catches these sparks and keeps them inside until they burn out safely.