chimney caps

Just like with any aspect of your home, chimney caps offer you a chance to express yourself.  The outside of your house can be just as beautiful as the inside with the right maintenance and the right choices, and just because your chimney cap is a functional and useful part of your house doesn’t mean that it can’t be stylish as well.  Coordinating the colors and styles of your roofing, chimney, chimney accessories, window accents, and more design aspects that go into decorating the outside of your home is exciting.  Here are some suggestions as to what your chimney cap can say about your home.

Traditional

If your home has a chimney to begin with, consider yourself lucky that you live in traditional enough a home that it has a fireplace.  The image of a family gathering around the fireplace is one that is all but disappearing, and if you’re lucky enough to still have one, flaunt it!  To go with your traditional fireplace, consider a traditional chimney cap, like one made out of clay, simple in design, that signifies the classicism of your home even from the outside.

Modern

Chic, modern homes can also have the benefit of a fireplace, albeit in a more sleek, refined way.  As with traditional design, modern design seems to be rooted in values like minimalism and simplicity.  However, modern design tends to have a more industrial bent, like you aren’t quite sure what the structure is used for.  This ambiguity is appealing, whether we are

Because it isn’t a delicate or fragile item, we don’t often think about the ways in which we need to take care of our fireplace.  We assume that because a fireplace is able to withstand the heat of a fire, it means that it isn’t in need of maintenance, and that just isn’t true.  Maintaining your fireplace, like maintaining any part of your home, is necessary to avoid unexpected and unforeseen repair costs.  Here are some tips so that you can avoid frequent fireplace repair.

Keep An Eye On Your Damper

We’ve talked before about the purpose of a chimney damper, but we’ll go over it quickly here.  A chimney damper serves to control the amount of air that can flow in and out of your fireplace.  Making sure that you keep your damper open during a fire is important for your safety and health, as that could cause the room to fill with the smoke that should be escaping through your chimney.  Making sure that you keep your damper closed when you aren’t using your fireplace is equally important for preventing outside air, whether that air is hot or cold, from getting into your house and affecting its temperature.  Checking your damper frequently also means generally checking for a clear chimney.  If there is significant debris build up, or if small animals have decided to use your chimney as a home, you should hire a professional service to clean it out for you as soon as possible.

Burn the Right Stuff

Not all burning materials are created equal, an

A chimney cap fits over the top of your chimney and prevents water from running down your chimney and into your stove, fireplace, and home. It is most important in climates that experience significant rainfall, but even those in drier areas should use one. Here are some of the advantages of a chimney cap.

Prevents Bird Nests And Animals In Your Home

No matter what size chimney you have, during the months that you are not burning a fire, birds may find it a very attractive place to build a nest and raise a family. Removing bird nests that are so high up on your home can cost you time and money and be very annoying when all you want to do is build a fire. Uncapped chimneys are more likely to allow wildlife into your home when no fire is present. Even if there are no visible animals, small animals can sometimes become trapped and die in a chimney.

Reduces Damage To Stove And Chimney

Water can cause rust to your stove, chimney, or fireplace. Pitting and other damage can make your whole wood heating system look dingy and worn out. As expensive as a nice stove is, you owe it to yourself to have a good quality chimney cap to protect your investment. The expense is far less than the damage that can be done without a chimney cover.

No Ice and Snow Accumulation

During inclement weather, ice and snow can accumulate in a chimney which means your stove cannot exhaust or draw efficiently. With a chimney cover, you can enjoy a good rate of flow that allows for better and more efficient heating of your home. It is also important to remember that when temperatures warm up and ice melts, you can experience additional damage from the moisture.

Professional Installation= All The Benefits

While you can install a chimney cap yourself, if you have never worked on a roof