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Custom Chimney Caps & Chase Covers Provide Attractive Protection Against Chimney Leaks

Here at Traditions Chimney Sweeps, we’re proud to be a one-stop shop for our customers in Montgomery County, Frederick County, and Howard County. While fire prevention is our #1 concern, we also help our customers keep water damage at bay by selling and installing custom chimney caps and chase covers.

While chimney caps and chase covers both work to keep water out, they’re not the same. Here’s a little bit of information about each and when and why each is needed:

Chimney Caps — Your Flue’s Defense Against Chimney Leaks

Whether you have a furnace flue, a prefab fireplace flue, or a masonry chimney flue sticking up out of the roof of your home, every flue needs to be covered and protected by a chimney cap. Chimney caps have very important jobs — they keep a lot of things out of your chimney, like these:

rain, snow, sleet, hail, ice
wind/downdrafts
birds
small animals
leaves, twigs, and greenery

By keeping all of these outsiders out, the chimney cap protects the chimney against a lot of costly damage, like flue liner deterioration; masonry flaking, cracking, and crumbling; and rust and corrosion. It also prohibits animals and birds from falling down into or nesting in the chimney, which could be a hazard for both you and them.

A leaky chimney cap or a missing chimney cap can be a real problem, but the solution is simple with Traditions Chimney Sweeps. We sell and install the industry’s best caps from Olympia Chimney and National Chimney Supply. From wind caps and storm caps to round and square single-flue caps and pitched skirt multi-flue caps, we’ve got it all right here.

The Big Dripper Cap — Greater Coverage & Better Protection

The Big Dripper cap, one of our favorites, offers greater protection than many traditional chimney caps because it covers a larger portion of the chimney, extending past the flue and over portions of the crown or chase cover. We carry The Big Dripper in several different sizes and styles, so whether you’re looking for a copper cap or stainless steel cap with a basic lid, a hip and ridge lid, or a hip and ridge lid with standing seams, we’ve got just what you need. And don’t worry — these can be used to provide protection to a single flue or to multiple flues.

Chase Covers — The Protection Your Prefabricated Chimney Needs

Do you have a prefabricated chimney system or furnace flue? Then you’ll need to make sure that, in addition to a quality cap, your system is protected with a quality chase cover. Chase covers are metal coverings that extend over the top of the prefabricated chimney (with an opening for the flue). Think of the chase cover as the equivalent of the chimney crown, only these are typically made specifically for prefabricated chimney systems.

The problem with most chase covers is that they leak. Many are made of subpar metals, like aluminum, which are prone to rust, corrosion, and even collapse under the weight of snow, sleet, ice, and pooling rain.

What you need to eliminate your leaky chimney worries is a strong stainless steel or copper chase cover that will resist rust and corrosion and keep water out for good. Don’t worry, we can help.

We sell and install quality stainless steel and copper chase covers that are built with cross seams for added strength. They’re also slightly angled to discourage pooling water and settling snow, ice, and sleet. It’s a simple, fast installation that provides long-lasting protection and peace of mind.

Is It Time To Replace Your Chimney Cap Or Chase Cover? Here’s What To Look For

These are the most common signs of chimney cap and/or chase cover failure:

rust staining and streaks down the sides of the chimney or on top of the chimney
chimney leaks
a deteriorating prefab chimney chase
flaking or cracking flue tiles
water in the fireplace

If you see any of these signs, it’s time to call Traditions Chimney Sweeps. We’ll perform a thorough inspection and determine whether or not a failing or missing chimney cap or chase cover is to blame for your water problems — or if there’s something else going on. Either way, you can count on our team of Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified professionals to come up with a helpful, effective solution and to answer any questions you may have.

Ready to schedule? Don’t wait because water certainly won’t wait on you! Call 240-801-5626 or request an appointment online today.

Traditions Chimney Sweeps offer products and installation services that can’t be beat, including the Ahren-Fire Fireplace system. Could it be what you need?