Every chimney is susceptible to water damage. If you have not repaired your chimney yet, the day will come. All chimneys need regular servicing. Chimneys are always outside subject to all the elements. Take a look at this video to see how you can repair the area of the chimney where it goes through the roof.

Why is it so crucial to keep sparks confined to your chimney and these other elements out? While you are toasting marshmallows and sharing intimate discussions by the glow of your fireplace’s hearth, quite a bit more is happening in the venting chamber of your chimney. The sparks produced from burning wood or faux logs will sometimes reach to your chimney’s top, and if not properly stopped, can ignite the flammable material surrounding your chimney wall, such as your roof and house’s construction. And all it takes is one airborne spark. Nesting animals such as squirrels and birds can find a sheltered refuge in your chimney’s top, usually without anyone being the wiser…until it’s too late. A chimney cap prevents them and their detrimental waste from taking up residence, thereby preventing foul odors and the mites that waste brings. Your chimney top is also exposed to rain, snow, hail, and violent gusts of wind; year after year. Without a chimney cap to insulate your chimney from its effects, rain can soak into the mortar joints of your chimney’s construction, thereby loosening the bricks or stone of your masonry chimney. Or if you have a metal chimney, precipitation will lead to damaging rust; thereby rapidly deteriorating your chimney. Violent wind gusts whip leaves and assorted debris into your chimney. These flammable materials can rapidly suffocate your flue from its necessary fire by-product venting, leading to dangerous chimney fires and downdrafting of the trapped smoke into your home. Buying a chimney cap is a priceless and easy solution to preventing a whole Pandora’s Box-full of natural evils, such as: fire, disease, costly repair, and strife from entering the safe harbor of your family’s cozy home.

Types of Chimneys
The first step in finding yourself a chimney cap is determining what type of chimney your house has. This will determine what type of chimney cap will fit best. The most common type of chimney is a masonry chimney, which is constructed of brick, stone, or concrete. Metal Chimneys or factory-built chimneys are mass-produced, typically come with a pre-fit chimney cap, and must be used with one, due to the fact that metal is less resilient in relation to Mother Nature’s elements. Typically, for masonry chimneys, you’ll find that their corresponding chimney caps come in three basic sizes: 8″ x 8″, 8″ x 12″ and 12″ x 12″, though custom styles and fits are available also.

Types of Flues
Whether you have a masonry or factory-made metal chimney, it is also necessary to determine what type of flue it works from. This can be determined by simply looking down into your chimney’s depths.
Masonry chimneys will have either single or multi flues, and these flues will be either extended or not. The most common is the single flue chimney with an extended flue. This flue will simply and visibly extend out the top of your chimney, allowing easy chimney cap installation and fit by screws which tighten to the flue’s construction. Single flue chimneys without extended flues have a recessed interior flue construction and will require what is called a leg kit or bracket to for installation of your chimney cap. The decision about whether you enlist a leg kit or brackets is yours, but brackets are recommended as they provide more resiliency under varying wind and weather conditions. Multi flue chimneys with or without extended flues will, as the type suggests, have more than one flue (typically two) either protruding from your chimney top or recessed in its interior.

Factory-produced Metal Chimney will have one of three basic types of flue construction: double-wall solid-pack insulated chimney pipe, double-wall air-insulated chimney pipe, or triple-wall air-insulated chimney pipe. Looking down into the chimney, you’ll see either two or three layers or walls of metal. If there is a metal cap or insulation material between these layers, you have yourself a solid-pack insulated flue system. If there is nothing but air between your flue walls, it is an air-insulated flue system.

Measuring
After determining what type of chimney and what type of flue you have, the next step is measurement of the flue system. Whether single or multi, extended or recessed, you will almost always need to know the precise width and length dimensions in order to accurately fit your chimney for a cap. Take the measurements a couple times to ensure accuracy, because being just a fraction of a size off, will negate all the purposes you’ve enlisted your chimney cap to demonstrate.

Masonry Chimneys:·For a single flue with an extended flue: measure the width and length of the outside parameters of the flue, and match these to a specific chimney cap size.·For a single flue without an extended flue: measure the width and length of the inside parameters of the flue, match to a specific chimney cap size, and order the corresponding leg kit or brackets.·For multi flue systems with or without extended flues: measure the total outside width and length of the combined flues. If your multi-flue system has one or more extended flues, you must next measure how far the highest flue extends out the top of the chimney. It is crucial when choosing a cap for these systems that you depend upon the measurements of your total flue system, as well as the flues’ height measurements to see how deep your chimney cap should be.

Factory-made Metal Chimneys:·For a double-wall solid-pack insulated flue system: measure the diameter of the inner pipe. Then, measure the diameter of the outer pipe. The inner dimensions will be used to secure the proper fit, while the outer dimensions will give a wider secondary cap protection for your flue. ·For a double or triple-wall air insulated flue system: measure the diameter of the inner pipe. Then, measure the diameter of the outer pipe. The inner dimensions will be used to secure the proper fit, while the outer dimensions will give a wider secondary cap protection for your flue.

Materials
Chimney caps come in a variety of materials depending on your aesthetic, function, and cost preferences. Galvanized metal flue caps are the most cost-effective and simple choice; but provide basic function without regard to aesthetics, will rust, and won’t last past the short-term. Stainless steel chimney cap construction is more middle-of-the-road cost-wise, and subsequently offers a more gratifying visual appeal, and will last much longer through varying elements and time. Copper chimney caps are the most expensive choice, but because of this offer: a hard-enduring quality, can be weathered naturally or coated with a special copper protectant to maintain the original color and shine. Stainless steel and copper constructed chimney caps do, more often than not, come with an extended warranty; and are the best way to go in the way of your chimney’s longetivity and your home and family’s safety.

Chimney Cap Types
Chimney caps also come in a variety of functions according to your cap preferences. There is the standard chimney cap which typically includes a screening material to further ward off elements and critters, is the most cost-effective, comes in a variety of materials, and takes care of your most basic chimney needs as far as insulation and protection is concerned. Draft increasing caps or vacuum chimney caps are more specific to a chimney that has difficulty, for one reason or another, drafting smoke up and out of your home. These chimney caps produce a stronger updraft, and are most often used with metal chimneys, though those with masonry chimneys can employ specific manufacturer adapters. There are two different options to cure this common chimney affliction. You can either employ what is called a flue stretcher which will extend the length of your flue and remove it from the influence of nearby or dual chimneys. This is a great option if you live in a dense city or have multi-floor fireplaces. Another option is a device which will decrease the downdraft by deflecting it within special cap fins, and subsequently suck excessive smoke out of your chimney. You may opt for a cap with an integral damper mechanism to replace a missing or loose-fitting damper system in your chimney. This type of chimney cap, once in place, will cap the previously wasted energy, restore the necessary damper functions, and insulate your home from the elements. Most come complete with a lever you’ll need to install on your fireplace wall, which activates effective use of the damper. Typically, those with older fireplaces will enlist these dual-purpose caps to gently restore an older fireplace.

Give us a call at 1-866-941-5112 and we will tell you what you need in only a few minutes.

If your chimney crown is cracked or looks like this, then you’re chimney system is at great risk for serious water damage. You can have your chimney crown repaired by having the mortar torn off and building a new crown. You also have the option of repairing your chimney crown with a product called Crownseal.

This is a great way to repair your chimney crown and save some money now and long term. If you ignore a chimney crown repair the cost can multiply as the water continues to enter the chimney system.

Click here to view the Crownseal chimney crown repair product in on our online store.

Click here for a video showing how to use Crownseal to repair your chimney crown

Water can make a real mess of your chimney, protect it with ChimneySaver Chimney Water Repellent.

With good weather here, it’s time to get your chimney clean and in shape.
We want to make sure you use the right tools for the job. Starting immediately, and running through the end of May, 2012, we’ll take 10% off our website prices on ChimneySaver Water Repellent.

NOTICE: This offer is only available to existing customers via phone orders.

Call us at 1-866-941-5112and mention this email.
Click here to access the page for ChimneySaver Chimney Water Repellent.

Have you noticed over the years a rust colored stain coming from the top of your chimney? This stain is not from your chimney but is in fact from your chase cover.

Where Can I Buy a Chimney Chase Cover?

Over time almost all pre-fab chimney chase covers rust due to the elements. Snow, ice and rain gets trapped on top of your chase cover and starts the decaying process. Leaves and pine straw also mixed with the moisture creates an acidic condition and breaks down the galvanized coating of your chase cover.

When this breakdown occurs the chase cover begins to pit. This will allow water to drip inside your chimney. Let this rust stain be your sign that it is time to replace your chase cover.

It is recommended when replacing your chase cover to use stainless steel. Stainless steel is more durable, stronger and will look new for a longer period of time. It is also recommended that the chase cover be designed with a cross break which creates a “dome” effect. This will prevent the snow, ice and water from pooling on top of your chase cover. Stainless chase covers come with a lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion.

If you are considering relining your chimney with a stainless steel chimney liner, you should definitely consider installing a rigid chimney liner.

304L is for venting wood appliances. 316L is for venting wood, coal, oil, and gas burning appliances.Most rigid chimney liner sections are made of nonmagnetic, series 304L or series 316L stainless steel. Unlike the flexible stainless steel liner, rigid pipe comes in sections and is usually round in shape and one to four feet long and five to ten inches or more in diameter. The most common wall thickness is 24-gauge (0.024 in.) or 22-gauge (0.029 in.) stainless steel.

For some odd reason as humans we like to procrastinate. If it’s summer we don’t like to think about heating our homes. The problem is, when we wait until the last minute things always get complicated. Right now prices are low on chimney liners. As with everything, when demand goes up, prices go up. Stainless steel prices are on the rise as well.

We can’t stress it enough.  Now is the time to purchase a chimney liner. Give us a call and we will make the process as simple as possible.