Chimney Cap Installation Cost

Within the chimney itself, there is a chamber called a flue which serves as a ventilation shaft for smoke, gases, and flammable by-products. If you climbed onto your roof and took a look at the chimney, you would see an open hole, the flue, at the top. It is over the flue, or flues, if your chimney has more than one, that the chimney cap is put.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 add around 30% to these costs for any modification needed.
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

You might also like our articles about the cost of a fire extinguisher ball, furnace ignitor, or a new roof.

Property owners typically ask themselves whether a chimney cap is something they truly require. The fact is, this small and fairly economical setup offers considerable protection against a number of things that might cost you thousands in damage and repair work expenditures. A chimney cap isn’t needed for practical functions, however, it is a terrific way to secure your house from cinders, moisture, and small animals.

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.