This can cause the masonry to decay and also rust important metal components like the damper and smoke shelf leading to more expensive repairs. Without it, the flue and fireplace are exposed to the external elements. The chimney cap is of particular importance. ![]() While most homeowners will consider the chimney cap to be an indispensable safety device, it’s an optional accessory and may not have been installed when the chimney was originally constructed. It’s mounted above the crown and is often manufactured using stainless steel to wrap the flue inside a cage-like mesh allowing smoke to vent, but prevent outside material from getting into the chimney. The chimney cap acts like a rain hat to help prevent water, birds, small animal and debris from getting inside the flue. Since aluminum chase covers are more prone to rusting than stainless steel, especially in coastal areas with high levels of salinity in the air, they need to be inspected regularly. The chase cover is a steel or aluminum square or rectangle-shaped cap that fits snugly on top of the chase to help protect it from water damage. Depending on your home construction, the chase may be built with brick, wood, vinyl or metal siding. The structural housing between the roof line and the chimney crown is the chase. The chase plays an important firefighting role in directing smoke, and flying burning embers away from your roof. So having a crown alone is not enough to keep all water and debris out of the chimney. While the crown seals most of the chimney, the flue is still exposed. ![]() If damages to the crown are not discovered and repaired in a timely manner, the brick masonry will begin to soften, decay and eventually break off the chimney. These influences can cause cracks to develop on the crown allowing water to leak behind the bricks inside the chimney. It is usually completed from leftover mortar or cement during chimney construction and is the basic first line of defense for protecting your chimney from its most dangerous threat: water. When properly installed and maintained, the sloped surface directs much of the water away from the chimney.ĭue to its prime location, the chimney crown takes a lot of abuse from outside influences like the weather and environmental conditions. The chimney crown is the top level of the chimney. ![]() And when any of these components are missing or fail, the risk of chimney problems rises. Together, these three critical components are the most visible, forming a protective barrier to keep water, small animals and debris out of the chimney and fireplace. Your chimney is a workhorse constantly exhaling smoke, fumes and other contaminants while you’re enjoying the warmth of your fireplace or wood stove. That’s why it’s important for homeowners to not only understand the difference between a chimney crown, chase cover and chimney cap, but how they help protect their home and chimney. The Difference between a Chimney Crown, Chase Cover, and Chimney Cap
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |