COLONIAL CHIMNEY / MASONRY CO. IS A FULL SERVICE CHIMNEY & MASONRY COMPANY SERVING ALL OF CONNECTICUT & RHODE ISLAND

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CHIMNEY CAPS

The main purpose of installing a chimney cap is to prevent water, weather elements, and debris from entering the chimney.

Do I Need a Chimney Cap?

For many people, the process of selecting a chimney cap starts with this question, but the truth is that if you’ve got an active chimney, you should have a chimney cap. The most basic reason for this has to do with fire safety.

An uncapped chimney is also much more likely to suffer weather damage. Without a chimney cap to block rain and snow, water can seep into the mortar joints of masonry chimneys and cause bricks to become loose. Water can even soak into the bricks themselves, resulting in cracking as the water freezes and expands. Excess moisture also promotes mold growth and is one of the most common causes of unpleasant chimney odors. If you have a metal chimney, exposure to moisture can create even more serious problems; water can destroy insulation, cause rust, and ultimately shorten the life of your chimney.

Chimney caps are not, however, only important because of what they keep in. Uncovered chimneys provide appealing nesting places for all sorts of small animals. Birds are the most common interlopers, but it’s not uncommon to find squirrels and raccoons in open chimneys. Such nests are dangerous because any kind of chimney obstruction can cause a smoke build-up inside your home and the waste from these animals can harbor disease. And, of course, living above a functional fireplace isn’t safe for the animals involved either. By capping your chimney you’re protecting both your family and your wild neighbors.

Also whenever you use your fireplace you create a lot of sparks. Most of them stay within the fire chamber or the base of the chimney, but some will reach the top of your chimney. If you don’t have a chimney cap or screen to keep them contained they could very easily ignite your roof or any other nearby flammable materials. A single spark is more than capable of setting your entire property on fire.

Finally, a chimney cap can actually help the performance of your chimney. Even if you don’t live in a particularly windy area, wind can still affect your chimney’s draft. Strong gusts can cause the draw of your fireplace or stove to fluctuate rather than remain at a continuous, steady rate. This can cause down-drafting, a serious problem where the smoke from your fire is being blown back down your chimney. Installing a chimney cap can block some of the wind and help your chimney’s draft remain constant.

OUR SERVICE AREA

We provide Chimney Inspections, Chimney Sweeping, Stainless Steal Liners, Wood Stoves, Heart Stoves, Inserts, Chimney Caps, Chimney Repair, Walls, Seawalls, Retaining Walls, Patios, Driveways, Pavers, Walkways, Venners, Waterproofing, and Masonry Repairs to customers and clients in the following areas:

Chester CT, Clinton CT, Colchester CT, Deep River CT, East Haven CT, East Lyme CT, Essex CT, Franklin CT, Gales Ferry CT, Griswold CT, Groton CT, Guilford CT, Hartford CT, Jewett City CT, Killingworth CT, Lebanon CT, Ledyard CT, Lisbon CT, Lyme CT, Madison CT, Middletown CT, Montville CT, Mystic CT, New Haven CT, New London CT, Niantic CT, North Stonington CT, Norwich CT, Old Lyme CT, Old Saybrook CT, Pawcatuck CT, Preston CT, Salem CT, Stonington CT, Voluntown CT, Waterford CT, West Haven CT, Westbrook CT, Windham CT, Ashaway RI, Bradford RI, Charlestown RI, Coventry RI, Cranston RI, East Greenwich RI, Exeter RI, Hope Valley RI, Hopkinton RI, Narragansett RI, North Kingstown RI, Providence RI, Richmond RI, South Kingstown RI, Warwick RI, West Greenwich RI, West Warwick RI, & Westerly RI.

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