best chimney cap to prevent downdraft

Many people with historic houses prefer them because of their classic appearance. Consequently, this type of cap may literally cost you less to buy, but you could ultimately end up spending more on maintenance and replacements than you would for a more expensive cap. The dampers in these combo models function just like any other top-sealing model; the damper sits on top of your flue and is controlled via a cable that runs through the chimney and connects to a lever mounted to your fireplace wall. Call us now toll free: The hope is that by keeping sparks that are larger than half-an-inch from leaving the chimney, you'll be able to reduce the risk of wildfires. A model with a 3/4" mesh has larger openings than one with a 5/8" screen.

Also, most draft-increasing chimney caps are designed to fit factory-built metal chimneys. Their design forces wind around their tops rather than allow it through their openings. They're among the most prevalent and come in square, rectangular, round, and oval varieties. Heres what having a chimney cap will do: Weve dedicated ourselves to making sure your home is safer and cleaner after weve completed every project. All of this strength and beauty does, however, come at a cost. When a downdraft occurs, exhaust from the fireplace that should be vented outside the home backs up into the living space making your indoor environment not only uncomfortable but dangerous. Some factory-built chimneys are double-walled, a flue-within-a-flue. In some instances, the insulation is left exposed, while in others it is covered with a metal cap. Vacu-Stacks are tested by an independent testing laboratory. High quality austenitic stainless steel, T-304, guarantees superior durability for long service life. Here's what you need to do for each type: Draft-increasing chimney caps differ from standard models in the way their tops are constructed rather than the way they attach to your chimney. By capping your,chimney you're protecting both your family and your furry neighbors. Moisture can enter the flue anytime it rains, without a chimney cap. Required fields are marked *. Find out more about our repair process here. Learn more our maintenance process here. Triple-wall solid-pack insulated metal chimneys feature three walls separated by insulation. Caps with 5/8" mesh have become the industry standard for areas that require 1/2" spark arrestors. These chimneys feature single flues that extend above their crowns. Below is information about the five basic kinds: All chimney caps improve draft, but if you live in an area with extreme winds, a standard model may not be enough to prevent downdraft problems.

During your annual chimney inspection your professional chimney sweep can check the cap to make sure it is properly cleaned and safe to use. Opening and closing the damper is as simple as changing the position of the lever. When not at work, he spends time with his wife, Lindsey, and his sons, Samuel and Eli, on their ranch enjoying their many animals. What is the White Staining on My Chimney? Masonry chimneys with a single flue might require a square, rectangular, round, or oval cap depending on the flues shape. It is not uncommon for this type of cap to come with an extended or lifetime warranty. Just make sure that the model you select is at least five inches taller than your tallest flue. This can cause downdrafts, a serious problem where the smoke from your fire is blown back down your chimney. The debate concerning the pros and cons of having a chimney cap can easily be won by the pros, since regular chimney cleaning and inspection virtually eliminates problematic issues. Your chimney cap choices are going to be limited to those specifically designed to fit your specific kind of pipe. They are naturally shiny, and because they don't tarnish, they remain that way over time. If your masonry chimney has a flexible metal liner, youll need to get a cap thats slip-on. Flue stretcher chimney caps allow you to raise the height of your masonry chimney's flue by one or two feet while protecting your home from the elements and animal invaders. This is not to say that they're totally flimsy - you'll usually get at least five years of service out of a high-quality one, but they are much more prone to corrosion than caps made from other materials. Even if you don't live in a particularly windy area, wind can still affect your chimney's draft. You can use either a standard flue cap with brackets or a model designed for multiple flues. But, if you need an adhesive or sealant, you may have to buy them separately. Such nests are dangerous because any kind of chimney obstruction can cause a smoke build-up inside your home, and the waste from these animals can harbor disease. When trees, other parts of your home, or nearby buildings are taller than your chimney, your chimney may fail to develop an ambient updraft and smoke can be forced back down your chimney. When it comes to capping, it's important to make sure you select a cap designed to work with a single-wall metal pipe.

Metal liners are often used when an existing masonry chimney is unsafe or damaged. They possess better corrosion resistance than caps made of galvanized steel but are significantly less sturdy. I recommend contacting a chimney sweep in your area. Please note that these caps are not returnable. Contact ustoday! Standard chimney caps, with their economical weather and animal protection, are by far the most common. The trouble is that different types of flues and chimney caps require different measurements, and if you're not really familiar with them, it can be difficult to figure out which ones you need. The style of chimney you have matters when it comes to picking out a cap. Your chimney cap's installation manual will tell you what kind of sealant or adhesive you should look for. Single-Flue Chimneys with Flexible Metal Liners. This can cause water to get inside the attic or house as it runs down the brickwork. This is the premier cap for solving common wind-related chimney draft problems caused by conditions such as hills and mountains in the vicinity, tall trees near the chimney, or tall buildings nearby. Regardless of which type you want, you'll need to measure the length and width of your chimney's opening. This kind of chimney literally consists of a rigid metal tube and nothing else. It's still possible for you to get a chimney cap. The answer has to do with fire safety and building codes. Double-Wall Solid-Pack Insulated Metal Chimneys. A chimney cap prevents water from entering the chimney. Just keep in mind that these chimney coverings are, due to their complicated nature, going to be much more expensive than other varieties. * Service & replacement parts. 4" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 5" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 6" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 6" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, 7" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, 8" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap, 8" Anti-Downdraft Liner Cap w/rainseal, Your email address will not be published. Fortunately, theres a chimney cap just for that. Before you can do that though, you'll need to identify what type of chimney and flue you have. Prevent damage, protect the masonry: a chimney cap keeps out moisture from rainwater and snow. The animals often get stuck; and they sometimes die, which creates an awful odor. Stainless steel caps are a mid-range option with improved quality and durability. Creosote is buildup caused by wood smoke and is not only deposited on the flue lining, it can also clog the mesh. You could, of course, hire someone to do it for you, but that will add significantly to your overall costs. What is Chimney Relining, and Why is it Needed? There are four basic types: You can secure a chimney cap with an adhesive, sealant, or screws.

Therefore, you can usually measure for them the way you would measure for a standard cap. Uncovered chimneys provide appealing nesting places for all sorts of small animals. The kind of chimney caps they can use is dictated primarily by their shape. Excess moisture also promotes mold growth and is one of the most common causes of unpleasant chimney odors. A copper cap can easily cost almost four times as much as a comparable galvanized steel model and twice as much as a stainless steel one. How do you know if a flue stretcher would help you? Caps with 5/8" mesh generally don't cost that much more than comparably-sized 3/4" models, and the additional protection they offer is well worth the extra money. Differences between Factory-Built Fireplaces and Masonry Fireplaces, How to Choose the Best Firewood for Your Needs. Some areas, particularly those in or near woodlands, have building codes that require all chimney caps to have 1/2" spark arrestors. Stainless steel is so corrosion resistant that it is almost rust-proof, and it is more than strong enough to withstand harsh weather. If, however, you're more concerned with maximizing protection than minimizing costs, you can get a cap that covers everything up to the edge of your chimney. Chimney caps come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match the exterior of your home. Because they are so specialized, they require chimney caps specifically designed for use with a double-wall air-insulated pipe. If you're interested in maintaining a copper cap's original color, you'll have to clean it regularly and continuously reapply protectant. A flue stretcher can help in this situation if raising the height of your flue a few feet will make it taller than the surrounding structures. What Degree of Creosote is in Your Chimney? The open spaces in a properly sized vacu-stack are several times larger than the flue opening. 6'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, 6'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Tee, 8'' x 25' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, 6'' x 35' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Tee, 6'' TDW Vacu-Stack for Air Cooled Chimney, Enervex Chimney Fan - RSHT 16 - Solid Fuel Appliance Only, Vacu-Stack 6" TDW Air Cooled with 1/2" Screen, Enervex Chimney Fan - RSHT 14 - Solid Fuel Appliance Only, Vacu-Stack 8" TDW Air Cooled with 1/2" Screen, 8'' TDW Vacu-Stack for Air Cooled Chimney, 13'' Type ''C'' Chimney Top Draft Inducer, Enervex Chimney Fan - RS 009-Gas Appliance Only, 6'' x 35' Lifetime Chimney Smooth-Wall Liner Kit with Stove Adapter, Vacu-Stack 6" TDW Air Cooled with 1" x 1" Screen. Improper wood practices like burning pine or improperly-seasoned wood with a moisture content greater than 20 percent would cause this problem, but so would building smoldering fires. Unfortunately, aluminum caps aren't particularly durable either. Flexible liners are softer, so a standard cap wont fit over the opening. Most are simply painted black and feature very basic, utilitarian designs. These function the same way as double-wall air-insulated pipes do, they just have three walls instead of two. Its dangerous to deal with a wild animal, since they can carry various diseases, including the deadly rabies virus. So if you dont have a cap for your chimney, definitely make it a priority to purchase one. Most masonry chimneys have some kind of flue. Once a galvanized chimney cap's zinc coating becomes compromised, it's only a matter of time before it rusts and will need to be replaced.

If you don't have a chimney cap or screen to keep them contained, they could ignite your roof or any other nearby flammable materials. Brick and stone chimneys are called masonry chimneys. Most models are backed up by a lifetime warranty. There are few material options to choose from for a new chimney cap. Aluminum is also fairly resistant to soot build-up, allowing it to maintain its attractive shine with less frequent cleaning. Similarly, a triple-wall metal chimney pipe requires one specifically built for that style. Even if local laws don't mandate the use of a 1/2" spark arrestor, though, there are a few other situations where you might want to consider investing in one. Caps with 3/4" mesh cannot meet this standard, so people living in locations with these laws needed an alternative, hence the 5/8" mesh chimney cap. For more information please click here. Theyll also limit downdrafts, which helps keep your house warm when you do have a fire going and keep the smoke out, instead of billowing inside your home and its living spaces.

And good news for you, the stronger the gust of wind that blows on this cap, the better updraft you will have. The most obvious reason to use a chimney cap with 5/8" mesh is that your local building codes require it. Shipping rate calculated in the Cart before payment. If you've got an active chimney, you should have a chimney cap. So, what's the difference then? If you have draft issues related to air inversion or the chimney top pressurization that can occur when your chimney is surrounded by tall objects, you'll have to seek out other solutions. If paper is burned in the fireplace, which isnt recommended, ash could accumulate and get trapped in the netting, causing blockage. Birds are the most common intruders, but it's not uncommon to find squirrels and raccoons in open chimneys. These high quality chimney and liner caps fit round and some masonry brick chimneys chimneys (require ICP masonry adapter). Soot can also clog the mesh on a chimney cap. If you've got an oval or round flue you'll have to buy your damper and cap separately. Smoke sometimes comes back into the room when you've got a fire burning. Reserved. In those situations, you may need a special draft-increasing cap to ensure that your fireplace vents properly.

Downdrafts can be caused by a variety of different things, but if your chimney is below your roofline and there are structures blocking the flow of air to your flue, your problems may be caused by insufficient flue height. Ten Most Common Reasons a Fire Wont Start in a Fireplace Pt 2, Ten Most Common Reasons a Fire Wont Start in a Fireplace Pt 1. The chimney cap is a potential problem area, no matter how frequently youve used your fireplace. The flues for your upstairs and downstairs fireplaces are adjacent to one another and smoke comes out of the fireplace on the lower floor when you have a fire in the one upstairs.This is caused by the negative pressures inside your house. Generally speaking, they don't differ much in terms of performance. Wire mesh on chimney caps are also spark deflectors, which can be extremely important in dry areas. You should also have them installed by a chimney service professional. Galvanized chimney caps are among the least expensive available. Once you know what kind of flue you have and how you want to cap it, you're ready to start thinking about the size of the chimney cap. Youve come to the right place. Multi-flue chimneys are exactly what their name implies; they are chimneys that feature more than one flue. A chimney cap can stop downdrafts from entering the home. As the smoke is exiting the flue connected to your fireplace on the upper level of your home, the flue from the one on the lower floor is automatically pulling it back in.Adding a flue stretcher to the flue from the upstairs fireplace can eliminate this problem because it creates more space between the two flues and makes it more likely that the smoke from the upstairs fireplace will be able to escape the draw of the downstairs flue. Is Chimney Sweeping a Profession for Women? Also, any lengthy run of exposed air-cooled chimney above the roof could cause the topmost portion of the chimney (and cap) to cake with creosote, but there are many potential causes. Aluminum chimney caps are also relatively inexpensive, with prices falling into a range very similar to that of galvanized steel models. These chimneys will need a top-mounted chimney cap, no matter if the flues are extended beyond the crown of the chimney or not. Birds are drawn to the warmth provided by a chimney and will build nests in uncapped chimneys, which causes serious clogging. I assume it would need to be larger for the smoke to escape - but how much larger? Approaching his 10-year work anniversary, Collin is one of our National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certified technicians and content manager for the eFireplacestore, eCanopy, andEliteDeals brands. A Note About Cap and Damper Combos: These caps are only available for square and rectangular chimneys. If your home has a chimney then youll need a cap if it doesnt have one already. Annual inspections are important, even for people who dont use their fireplaces frequently during the winter. Some homeowners find their taller style more appealing than that of traditional caps, but the motivation behind creating this kind of chimney cover is purely practical. This means that the mesh used on the chimney caps has to be small enough to prevent a half-inch sphere from passing through them. There are, however, some problems which can occur because of a chimney topper, particularly involving wire mesh.

This kind of chimney features two walls separated by open space and uses air to cool the flue. But if you have a copper or aluminum cap and you'd prefer that it remain shiny, you'll need to apply a protectant. Child Chimney Sweeps: A True and Shocking Tale, Its That Time for All Fireplace Owners to Ensure that Chimneys are Clean, National Fire Prevention Week 2012 is October 7-13, Chimney Liner: A Home Improvement to Smile About, Pellet Stoves 101 Part 3 of 3 (Environmental Advantages), Pellet Stoves 101 Part 2 (Installation and Operation), Pellet Stoves 101 Part 1 (About the Pellets), Real Fires Give Lessons in Fireplace Safety. What May be Hidden or Stuck in Your Chimney?

professional cleaning by one of our licensed, certified chimney sweeps, Hi-Tech Style with Regency Fireplace Products, Its Time to Consider a Wood Burning Stove, Reasons Chimneys or Fireplaces Look Unsightly, Smoke Alarms & National Fire Prevention Week, The Father of the Fireplace Insert Ben Franklin, Tips for Achieving Responsible Wood-Burning, Common Problems with Gas Fireplaces Part 2, Safety Issues with Chimneys in Old Houses, Three Types of Convenient Gas Burning Products to Consider, Common Problems with Gas Fireplaces Part 1, Two Little Known Causes of House Fires: Batteries and Pyrolysis, Problems with Wood Burning Stoves: Causes and Solutions, Tips for Maintaining your Chimney Cap Screen, 5 Benefits to Adding a Glass Door to your Fireplace, Comparing Pellet Stoves with Wood-Burning Stoves, Hire a Chimney Sweep before Selling your Home, Tips to Prepare your Home for Winter Part 2, Tips to Prepare your Home for Winter Part 1.

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