The cap is the small, inexpensive part at the very top of the chimney that does a surprising amount of protective work, and a chimney without a good one is open to every problem the sky can deliver. Rain falls straight down the flue, squirrels, raccoons, and birds move in and build nests that block the draft, and burning embers can drift out onto a roof. BrightFlue Chimney Pros installs chimney caps and chase covers across Gahanna, OH that are sized to the flue they protect, built to stand up to central Ohio weather, and fitted with the right mesh to keep animals and sparks where they belong. It is one of the highest-value upgrades a chimney can get for the money.
- Cap sized to the actual flue, not a one-size guess
- Stainless or other weather-rated materials that last
- Mesh sized to block animals and catch drifting embers
- Chase covers fabricated and fitted for prefab chimneys
- Water, nesting animals, and downdrafts kept out of the flue
- Free measure-up and a straight written estimate
The small part at the top that protects everything below
A chimney cap is a cover with mesh sides that sits over the top of the flue, and for such a modest piece of hardware it prevents a remarkable list of expensive problems. Its first job is keeping rain and snowmelt out of the flue, because water falling directly down an uncapped chimney rusts the damper, soaks the smoke shelf, degrades a metal liner, and over time damages the firebox and the masonry from the inside out. In central Ohio's wet, freeze-prone climate, an open flue is an invitation for exactly the kind of water damage that turns into a costly repair, and a cap is the simplest way to head it off.
The cap's mesh sides do two more jobs at once. They keep animals out, which matters more than people expect, because a warm, sheltered flue is prime real estate for squirrels, raccoons, and birds, and a nest packed into a chimney blocks the draft, creates a fire hazard, and sometimes traps an animal that cannot get back out. And the mesh acts as a spark arrestor, catching the burning embers that can otherwise drift out of a wood-burning flue and land on the roof or in the yard. One inexpensive part keeps water, wildlife, and stray sparks all in check.
Fitting the right cap, and why chase covers differ
A cap only protects the chimney if it actually fits, which is why we measure the flue rather than reaching for whatever generic cap is on the shelf. A cap that is too small leaves part of the flue exposed, and one that is poorly fastened becomes a projectile in a central Ohio windstorm, so we size it to the specific flue and fasten it to hold. We install stainless steel and other weather-rated caps because a cheap cap that rusts through in a few seasons defeats the entire purpose, and on a chimney with multiple flues we make sure each one is properly covered rather than leaving a gap.
Prefabricated and factory-built chimneys, common on a lot of newer Gahanna homes, need a chase cover rather than a simple flue cap. The chase cover is the metal lid that covers the entire top of the framed chase, and when the original cover rusts, which the thin galvanized covers builders often use tend to do, water pours into the chase and damages the structure and the framing inside. We fabricate and fit stainless chase covers that shed water properly and last, sealing the top of the chase the way it should have been sealed from the start. Whichever type your chimney needs, we will measure it, tell you exactly what it calls for, and put the price in writing.
A low-cost upgrade with an outsized payoff
Of all the work a chimney can have done, a cap or chase cover is among the best values, precisely because it prevents the slow, expensive damage that an open or poorly covered flue invites. The cost of a quality cap is small next to the cost of relining a flue that water has degraded, rebuilding a crown that has been soaking for years, or evicting a family of raccoons and repairing the mess they leave. A good cap is quiet insurance for everything in the chimney beneath it.
If your chimney has no cap, a rusted one, or a flimsy builder-grade cover that is already failing, the fix is simple and quick, and it is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of the whole chimney. We will measure the flue or the chase at no charge, recommend the cap or cover that genuinely fits your chimney and your climate, and give you an honest estimate in writing. It is a small job that prevents a lot of large ones.
Connecting the chimney pieces
A chimney is a system, so chimney cap installation rarely stands alone, it connects to flue cleaning, pre-season chimney inspection, chimney patching, a new chimney liner, tuckpointing, and our crew handles all of it under one roof. We bring the same service to Chimney Cap Installation in Columbus, Chimney Cap Installation in New Albany, Chimney Cap Installation in Westerville, Chimney Cap Installation in Reynoldsburg and everywhere else across the Gahanna area.
If you searched for a local chimney crew near you, you have reached a local crew, call 740-437-3271 any time. For background, read Creosote, Firewood, and How to Burn Cleaner in Your Gahanna, OH Fireplace on our blog, or head back to our Gahanna home page to see everything we do.