Some parts of the chimney are easily recognized and easily explained. For example, the damper is important because it serves two very useful purposes: it keeps the cold outside air from coming into your home and it keeps the heated air from inside your home from leaving through your chimney. The flue liner protects the interior of your chimney from the corrosive effects of snow and precipitation as well as keeping the interior walls and ceiling of your home safe from the heat of combustion. The firebox keeps your fire contained. But there are two components of your chimney system that often get mixed up, and they are the chimney cap and the chase cover.
Role of the Chimney Cap
The chimney cap is at the very top of your chimney. It sits on top of the chimney crown and fulfills the purpose of guiding precipitation away from the chimney opening and onto the slope of the roof so that it doesn’t trickle down into your chimney where it can cause deterioration and damage. It also keeps birds and animals out of your chimney. This is important for several reasons. First, animals can be an annoyance. They seek out your chimney as a safe place to build a nest, out of the way of bad weather, cold winds, and predators. These nests can be obstructions that block the airflow in your chimney. When the babies are born, they can make noises that can be disruptive. Once the critters leave, the nest dries out, and that’s a fire hazard.
Chimney caps can also keep garbage, leaves, and twigs out of your chimney, as well as any other debris that may be floating around. But not only does your chimney cap keep things out, it also keeps sparks and embers from floating out of your chimney and setting your roof on fire.
Role of the Chase Cover
If you have a prefabricated chimney, you probably have a chase cover. Most prefab chimneys are made of metal, and the metal pipes that extend past the roof are oftentimes covered by a chase cover. The chase cover actually plays the same role on a prefab chimney that a chimney cap plays on a brick and mortar chimney. It keeps things out of your chimney, such as animals precipitation, or dried leaves and sticks, and keeps embers from floating up and out of your chimney.
Which Do You Need
Whether you have a brick and mortar chimney or a prefabricated chimney, it’s important to cover it so that you don’t have unwanted material in your chimney, to keep precipitation out, and to keep sparks and embers contained. If you are looking to purchase a chimney cap for your brick chimney or a chase cover for a prefab one, give us a call at 419-752-2231. At Chim Cheroo Chimney Service Inc, we work hard to make sure our customers are satisfied, and we have the knowledge and expertise to get the job done right. Give us a call today!