Animal guard mesh
A heavy mesh screen blocks animals from nesting in the chimney while letting smoke and gases out.
Chimney Parts
Chimney Cap Installation Country Club Hills, IL
A Country Club Hills chimney sweep can measure your flue and install a chimney cap built from stainless steel or copper and sized to the flue or the crown. One call to (708) 816-0120 reaches a nearby sweep who installs caps.
A chimney with no cap lets in water, debris and animals every day of the year. Water that falls into an open flue rusts metal parts, breaks down mortar and leaves a damp, smoky odor in the room. Animals treat an uncapped chimney like a hollow tree.
Caps are made of a lid that keeps precipitation out and wire mesh walls that let smoke and gases pass. The crown seals the top of the brick, while the cap protects the opening of the flue itself.
Choosing a cap comes down to the shape of the chimney and what it vents. Some caps fasten to the flue tile with screws or a clamp, and others mount to the crown and cover all the flues at once. Galvanized caps cost less up front but tend to rust, so stainless steel or copper is the longer lasting choice.
Many chimney cap installation calls in Country Club Hills also turn up a need for chimney crown repair or chimney animal removal.
Dealing with this in Country Club Hills, IL right now? Call (708) 816-0120 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chimney cap installation process
Putting on a cap is quick work, but measuring and checking come first.
Look inside
Before the cap goes on, the flue is checked for animals, nests and blockages. An occupied flue gets handled before capping.
Measure the flue
The flue tile is measured across the outside and for how far it sticks above the crown. A cap that is too small will not fit, and one that sits too low can restrict draft.
Choose the material
The cap is matched to the chimney, the appliance and the look of the house. The appliance using the flue affects the choice.
Inspect the top
The crown and the top of the flue are checked so the cap is not mounted on failing masonry. Any damage found is pointed out to you.
Fasten the cap
The cap is attached firmly so wind and animals cannot pry it loose. A well fastened cap stays put in high wind, and the sweep can tell you how often to check the screen.
What is included
What chimney cap installation covers
Top sealing caps
Caps with a built in damper seal the top of the flue and cut drafts for better energy savings.
Multi flue caps
A larger cap that covers the entire crown and every flue under it keeps several flues covered under one lid.
Copper caps
Copper caps last a long time and weather to a natural patina so the cap does not need replacing every few years.
Single flue caps
Caps made for a single flue that clamp or screw onto the tile for the typical one flue chimney.
Related service
Chimney Cap Replacement Country Club Hills, IL
Caps do not last forever, especially the galvanized ones that come on many homes. Look for rust stains on the crown, a tilted lid or gaps in the screen. A replacement in stainless steel or copper usually ends the cycle of rusting caps.
Homeowners in Country Club Hills often find out about a failed cap when water or an animal shows up in the fireplace. When you call (708) 816-0120, mention whether the old cap is still on the chimney and what the fireplace or stove burns. A flue left uncapped for a while is worth sweeping or checking for nests.
Related service
Spark Arrestor Installation Country Club Hills, IL
A spark arrestor is the mesh screen on a chimney cap that stops burning embers from leaving the flue and landing on the roof or nearby trees. The NFPA 211 standard sets a mesh size that is small enough to stop embers but large enough not to clog quickly, about half an inch or a little less. Some communities with wildfire risk require them on every wood burning chimney.
A screen that clogs with soot can push smoke back into the house, so the mesh should be checked during sweeping. If smoke suddenly starts spilling into the room, a clogged screen is one of the first things to check. The fix is usually cleaning the screen or swapping in a new one.
Local help
Chimney Cap Installation Near Me
Chimney caps in Country Club Hills take a beating from wind, storms and the freeze and thaw cycles that come with the seasons. From Country Club Hills out to neighboring towns like Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Markham and Homewood, sweeps regularly find missing caps, rusted mesh and caps blown loose by storms, and a good cap pays for itself by keeping water and animals out of the flue.
For chimney cap installation in Country Club Hills, IL or nearby towns like Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Markham and Homewood, call (708) 816-0120 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Country Club Hills
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Country Club Hills chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Country Club Hills and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Cap Installation FAQ
What is the difference between a chimney cap and a chimney crown?
They are two different parts: the crown is the masonry top of the chimney and the cap is the metal piece over the flue. A cap is a removable metal hood that keeps water and animals out of the flue itself. Each protects a different part, so both should be in good shape.
How long does a chimney cap last?
Stainless steel and copper caps often last for decades with little upkeep. Galvanized and painted steel caps tend to rust within several years, especially near the coast or with oil fired appliances. Have the cap looked at during each sweeping, since wind and wildlife can loosen it.
What should I do if birds are nesting in my chimney?
Some chimney birds, especially chimney swifts, are protected, which limits what can be done during nesting season. The sweep will advise on when it is legal to clear the nest. Once the birds have left for the season, the flue can be cleaned and a cap installed to keep them from returning.
Why should I put a cap on my chimney?
The main job of a cap is to keep water and animals out of the chimney. Water damage and animal nests are two of the most common chimney problems, and both are largely prevented by a cap. Most chimney sweeps recommend a cap on every flue.
Can a chimney cap cause draft problems?
The right cap, mounted with enough height above the flue, lets smoke out freely. Problems come from caps that sit too low, mesh that is clogged with soot or creosote, or a cap that is too small for the flue. A sweep can clean the mesh or switch to a better fitting cap.
More questions? Call (708) 816-0120
Other services that may help
Chimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Animal Removal
Getting wildlife and debris out of fireplace and stove chimneys, then capping the top so they cannot return.
Learn moreChase Cover Replacement
Replacing rusted or leaking chase covers custom sized to the chase so water stays out.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Country Club Hills chimney sweep about chimney cap installation
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(708) 816-0120
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