Chimney Cap Maintenance and Repair

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Your chimney cap is an essential part of your chimney. Basically, the cap is the top of the chimney, where the air comes in to and out of the chimney, where the smoke is going to go into the air when it’s going from your woodstove or fireplace. If there is an issue with your cap, it could result in clogging or any other number of issues that make your chimney dangerous to use. Here are a few things that may need to happen in order to keep your chimney cap in the best condition possible.

First, you may need to replace the wash, which is the sealant that is around the top of the chimney. This wash is meant to help keep the entire chimney cap airtight, which prevents problems from happening. If you aren’t afraid of heights and you’re fairly confident and experienced with home repair skills, you can take care of this yourself. All you have to do is make sure that all of the old wash has been taken off – you just have to chip away at it with a chisel or some other chipping device that will do the trick. After all of the old wash is gone, you put a layer of the new wash on top of it, and then you’ll be ready to go. Make sure that it seals everything completely, and that it doesn’t crack while it’s drying. This is the simplest type of chimney cap repair that you can do on your own, so don’t worry too much if you have to take care of this.

Another thing that you want to make sure that you do is seal all of the bricks that are near the chimney cap. This is something that is going to be a little more complicated for you to do, mainly because you have to make sure that every little nook and cranny is filled in. Some people recommend that this type of chimney cap repair is only done by professionals. If you have experience doing it, you definitely can do it, but you can ensure your success and prevent other issues by getting the help of a professional. In order to do this, you want to spray down the air and make sure that everything is clean. Then, put a coat of water repellant on top of it and make sure that all of the crannies are sealed. Some people recommend doing this by hand, other people will use machines to do it. Either way, you’re trying to make sure that there are absolutely no holes in the bricks at all.
 
When you put the actual chimney cap on (which is the metal or cement device that sits on top of the chimney to try and ensure that large objects can’t get in or out very easily), make sure that it is secure as well. You want to put it on there snugly, but make sure that you don’t cause damage to the cement layer that you either just replaced or have had for awhile. Either way, make sure that the cap isn’t moving around at all, and that it’s going to stay safe and secure on top of the chimney. A proper installation can only be guaranteed by a professional, so if you don’t feel sure about what you’re doing with the chimney cap, call someone who is able to take care of it for you. That way, you won’t have to call them back later to do repairs that could have been prevented in the first place.

You can solve a lot of issues with your chimney cap, and prevent a lot of future problems, if you get chimney cleaning done at least yearly. You can prevent soot and other particles from getting caught in there, and ensure that there isn’t a crack or some other sort of issue that has to be dealt with related to your chimney cap. Call your chimney professional today in order to get an idea of how much it may cost you to get cleaning and repairs, and to see when you can schedule your next appointment for maintenance and upkeep purposes.

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