Chimney Cap Installation Cost
Last Updated on December 10, 2021 | Written by CPA Alec Pow
First Published on December 17, 2020 | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popivker
You should be ready to pay somewhere between $150 and $200 usually to have a chimney cap set up. Rates will differ depending upon the kind of chimney cap you buy along with the ease of access to your chimney.
The function of a chimney is to let smoke and dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide out, thus keeping your household safe. However, issues can also occur if things are permitted to come into your chimney.
Chimney caps are made to prevent animals, particles, and water from getting in the chimney and damaging things. They also aid to prevent roofing fires and downdrafts. If your chimney does not have a cap, or the existing one is in a bad condition, then it is critical that you have a brand-new one set up right away to prevent pricey repair work down the road. Continue reading this article to find out more about chimney caps and chimney cap set up costs.
A Summary of Chimney Caps
The Types Of Chimney Caps
The primary step in picking a chimney cap is identifying whether you have a premade chimney or a masonry chimney.
Prefabricated chimneys are typically set up in houses developed throughout the mid-1980s or later on. Made from metal, they are in some cases called “fake chimneys” to differentiate them from standard physical chimneys. It’s recommended to utilize a cap produced by the chimney maker to get the very best fit and efficiency.
A masonry chimney, with an outside brick facade, is most likely what will come to mind when you think about a chimney. Masonry chimneys can be fitted with a wide array of chimney caps.
As soon as you have actually identified what kind of chimney you have, it’s time to think about the various products utilized to make chimney caps.
- Galvanized: Galvanized chimney caps are made from steel and normally painted black. While reasonably low-cost, these metal chimney caps tend to rust, which can tarnish your roofing system and make the cap susceptible to being blown off by strong winds.
- Stainless steel: This is the kind of chimney cap usually set up by experts. Stainless-steel chimney caps are silver in color and usually come with a lifetime warranty.
- Copper: A copper chimney cap can cost approximately 3 times as much as stainless-steel caps, however, they look great and will probably last a lifetime. Keep in mind that it’s also possible to have a customized chimney cap or ornamental chimney cap made from any of these products too.
Just how much Does a Chimney Cap Cost?
Expenses differ according to the size and style of the cap along with the material used. An extra expense is the setup, which differs according to typical labor rates in your area.
- Aluminum chimney caps will cost anywhere between $40 and $175 usually.
- Galvanized steel chimney caps have a cost range that starts as low as $25 and goes up to around $300, with an average of around $150.
- Stainless steel chimney caps will cost somewhere between $50 and $500, with around $200 being the more common cost.
- Copper chimney caps will have a price that starts at around $200 and increases to over $1,500, however, the typical cost is around $600.
- A non-metal chimney cap will cost around $300 to $500 normally.
You should also add around $75 for a handyman to set it up, $125 for a chimney sweeper or bug control professional, or $150 for a fireplace company
Why Do You Need a Chimney Cap?
Chimney Caps and Critters
While not as much of a problem in the warmer seasons (just a few individuals, if any, run their fireplace throughout summertime), the chillier months bring a possibility of animals nesting closer to the heat of your chimney. It’s a small road from making their house around your chimney, to making their house inside your chimney. Birds, squirrels, or other animals building their nests in your chimney cause numerous issues.
When animals obstruct that area, it prevents the smoke and gases produced by the fire from leaving the house. With no place to go, these gases return into your house, triggering smoke and soot damage and even carbon monoxide gas poisoning to individuals inside.
Chimney Caps and Downdrafts
Among the reasons why some owners don’t want to set up a chimney cap is the concern that it hinders chimney draft. While this is often the case if the cap is set up improperly, an expert installer makes sure that it is done right. In fact, a correctly set up cap has the capability to fix any draft issues. There are even specifically created chimney caps made to fix or decrease typical draft problems. Nevertheless, it is essential that you call an expert to do the setup, as even specifically created caps have the ability to trigger issues if poorly set up.
Chimney Caps and Debris
Debris entering your house by means of the chimney is more than simply an annoyance; it can rapidly end up being a problem. Branches and leaves fit quickly into your chimney on a windy day, as do garbage and other debris. While it is not likely that your fireplace will rapidly end up being nature’s and the area’s trash can, it is possible and might cause a range of problems.
Debris triggers draft issues, keeping smoke from effectively leaving the chimney into the outside air. It also does not take much to start a chimney fire, and an accumulation of particles inside the chimney is a problem waiting to happen. However, a chimney cap prevents these problems and leaves your chimney safe and without debris. You must still clear any leaves or other sediments it gets, however, that’s a little cost to spend on security.
Chimney Caps and Sparks
There is no such thing as a fire without sparks. Each and every time you utilize your fireplace, there are sparks, the majority of which remain within the fire chamber or somewhere around the chimney’s base. Nevertheless, a few of them are able to (and typically do) get out of your chimney. Setting up a cap guarantees that you are able to light that comfortable fire, without sparks flying out the top of your chimney to start a fire. This might seem like a reach, however, the sparks from your fire can cause such issues.
Chimney Caps and Moisture
Beyond preventing you from lighting the fire, moisture damages your chimney. Ice, rain, and snow all lead to wear and tear and other structural issues in a chimney, specifically when that moisture blends with soot. Even by themselves ice and snow lead to a lot of damage, as the process of freezing and melting is extremely hard on the crown, liner, and walls of a chimney’s masonry. This ultimately results in chips, fractures, and costly repair work. A correctly fitted chimney cap prevents these issues and saves you the expenditure of fixing your chimney every season.
Do It Yourself Chimney Cap Setup: Advantages And Disadvantages
There are benefits and disadvantages to installing your chimney cap by yourself. In the pros column is the fact that cap setup is fairly easy. Usually, it is as simple as placing the flue tabs into the chimney and tightening up the screws on the outside of the cap base, though it needs to be noted it is not always that simple. It is likewise less expensive to do it yourself, as many specialists charge around $175 for the whole procedure. If you do it yourself, you invest around $75 for the chimney cap itself.
In the cons column, there are a couple of points also. For one, if you do not have any experience with chimney caps, you might get the incorrect kind of cap or install it improperly. There is likewise no assurance that you have the correct tools or know the safest way to put the cap on. An expert has all of the right tools and really knows the best way to set it up. There is also a possibility that Do It Yourself setup will void the warranty of the cap. Voiding the warranty means that the maker will not change the cap if something fails later on.
Things to Avoid When Setting Up a Chimney Cap
The entire point of a chimney cap is to keep debris, moisture, and critters from entering your chimney or house. If you do choose to set up the cap yourself, there are some typical problems you must know about to aid you to avoid them.
An issue that lots of house owners make is getting a cap made from the wrong product. An inaccurate chimney cap leads to safety issues, triggering sometimes chimney fires, increased draft, and allowing the elements. Gas log fireplaces shouldn’t be integrated with galvanized chimney caps, as putting the two together triggers corrosive exhaust and rust damage. Copper and stainless-steel caps are more costly, however, they come with fewer issues than galvanized ones. They likewise need less upkeep.
A bad chimney cap can also make drafts even worse. Although some caps have systems created to prevent or decrease drafts, others add to the issue. Assess the drafting in your house prior to choosing the kind of cap you set up. In addition, you will have to inspect whether your chimney has a damper system. If not, buy a cap that will have an integrated damper system.
Another typical error individuals make when adding a chimney cap is purchasing one that does not fit. Picking a cap that fits your flue exactly might be the most important element. Purchasing the incorrect sized cap not just adds time to the entire project, because you need to return and replace it, but it might in fact harm your chimney if you try to install it prior to knowing it’s the incorrect size.
If you did get the size right on the very first shot, make sure that the chimney cap is fully secured when set up. An unsecured cap can allow whatever you’re attempting to keep out or fly off throughout a storm, potentially harming your or a next-door neighbor’s home.
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