Chimney Chase Covers Near Town of Oyster Bay

What A Chimney Chase Cover Does

Chimney chase parts are exposed to the sun, wind and all kinds of year-round weather and it’s extremely important that your chimney chase cover be checked regularly to make sure chimney chase covers are still doing their jobs. The chase cover and chimney cap help keep the more detrimental conditions — (including water, snow, leaves, debris and critters) — out of the fireplace and flue. Chimney chase covers are usually a rectangular-shaped piece that encloses the top of a chimney made of brick, wood, vinyl or metal. Chase tops are only found on chases connected to factory-crafted fireplaces. The four main layouts for chimney chase tops are aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel and copper. Each of these materials has its rewards and cons.

Aluminum is a softer metal and might not hold up as well against the inclement conditions. Aluminum is incredibly reliable, especially if you live in an area that sees a ton of dangerous weather. That being said, because it’s predisposed to last very long, it’s often worth the extra price. If you need to replace a rusty, leaky cover promptly – it might be a good option when the bank account isn’t prepared for a huge, significant bill. Galvanized steel rusts easily, so you might have to replace the chimney chase cover within a few years. While stainless steel is the strongest product you will choose, copper is considered the most high-quality.

Do I Need My Chimney Chase Cover fixed?

Usually, a hole would let things in: that’s why the owner needs a chimney chase cover. While water certainly doesn’t mix well with fire, a chase cover goes far beyond simply keeping the roaring fireplace going. Not only might these damages be extremely ritzy to fix, but the chimney chase cover could also be detrimental to you and your family. Part of caring for the chimney is knowing when it’s time to get a chimney chase cover fixed.

The most prevalent cause of leaks comes from corrosion and rust. Corrosion and rust may lead to leaks and holes in your cover. Once rust initiates, the chimney chase cover only gets worse. So how might an owner know when a homeowner need to replace a chimney chase? Professionals should come out to a home once a year to do a thorough check of achimney structure. This inspection includes a close look at your home’s roof, the chimney and the area surrounding it. Another sign that an owner need a new cover is finding water on the floor of your home’s fireplace. So, if you’re finding water in your fireplace, there’s a good chance your home’s cover is taking on rust or corrosion.

Checking For Chimney Chase Leakage

If the owner have a wood-framed chimney chase, you most certainly need a chimney chase cover. If the owner have a framed chimney chase, the owner need a chimney chase cover. If the existing chimney chase cover is starting to deteriorate, it would be a good idea to replace the chimney chase cover sooner rather than later to avoid additional obstacles that would be caused by a leak.

The top of the cover should have cross breaks – which will shed all the water off the top of the chimney. Replacing your chimney cover with a stainless steel cover could block further stains on the home. Expressway warranties chimney chase covers against rust and corrosion. By replacing a galvanized or rusty chase cover, an owner are adding value to the home.

Spotting Destroyed Chimney Parts

Your chimney is a workhorse constantly exhaling smoke, fumes and other contaminants while you’re enjoying the warmth of the fireplace or wood stove. 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.

It’s typically completed from leftover mortar or cement during chimney construction and is the basic first line of defense for protecting the chimney from its most risky threat: water. When rightly installed and preserved, the sloped surface carries much of the water away from the chimney. Due to its prime location, the chimney crown takes quite a bit of abuse from outside influences such as the weather and environmental conditions. While the crown seals most of the chimney, the flue is still exposed. So having a crown alone is not enough to keep all water and debris out of the chimney.

The structural housing between the roof line and the chimney crown is the chase. The chase cover is a steel or aluminum square or rectangle-shaped cap that fits snugly on top of the chase to help protect the chimney chase cover from water issues. The chimney cap acts like an umbrella to help stop snow, rain, water, birds, animals and debris from getting inside the flue. It’s an optional accessory and may not have been connected when the chimney was originally constructed.

The chimney cap is of particular importance. Without it, the flue and fireplace are exposed to the external conditions. Also, small birds, squirrels, raccoons and other little critters are attracted to exposed chimneys for cover against predators. This stops the escape of harmful fumes from a burning fireplace exposing people in a home to sickening, high levels of smoke and carbon monoxide. The force of a downdraft from an exposed flue may blast open fireplace doors pushing smoke, soot and ash into the house. Repair any missing or deteriorated components as directly as possible.

Chimney Chase Repairs By Expressway

While a homeowner might certainly continue to learn, it’s best to contact a chimney sweep with any questions or concerns an owner could have. If you’re in the Long Island area, schedule an appointment with Expressway or give us a call to address the chimney needs .

We ask that an owner be careful whom an owner hire(s)! Customers should only allow the problematic chimney to be worked on by a knowledgeable CSIA Certified Chimney expert who could provide the owner with the proper service and suitable parts for your system. For instance, cross-breaks create a dome effect, allowing rain, debris to flow away from a chase cover rather than collecting on top of it. Unfortunately, not all covers feature this extremely beneficial design and people almost always don’t realize that until it’s too late and the complications has already been done. Give us a call and let us handle all of a chimney’s requirements.

CHIMNEY CHASE COVER INQUIRIES