Chimney Brush

Every single home fireplace absolutely requires the use of chimney caps.  These are special devices that are meant to completely allow airflow from your fireplace to the outdoors, but they also restrict animals, or moisture from getting to your chimney.  The wrong type of material in your chimney can be disastrous, both for your home, and your health, so keeping the fireplace safe to use should be a top priority.  For this reason, you need to be sure that you have the proper chimney caps for your home, so that you can ensure that you stay safe throughout the fireplace season.

In principle, the way that chimney caps are meant to work, is by providing adequate blockage to protect the chimney, without restricting airflow.  Typically this is achieved by manufacturing a solid cap that features a restrictive top so that no water can pour down into the chimney.  But they usually feature mesh sides so that an animal cannot crawl inside, and air can still flow freely.  This way, the smoke and carbon monoxide kicked up from a fire will be able to exit your home, so that you can receive the great benefits of using a real wood fire. Plus there are a variety of different styles of chimney caps, so you can even find one to really enhance the look of your home.

In most cases, chimney caps will be made from some sort of metal, typically steel, but they can also be made from iron, or copper.  If you have a modern metal chimney, it’s likely that you already have an adequate cap, as most feature their own caps that are automatically installed.  But for real brick or stone chimneys, you’re going to need to ensure that you have proper chimney caps.  Typically stainless steel or cast iron are the best materials, as they stand up to the elements the best.  Although they can be expensive, it’s worth the investment on your part, into the health of your home and family.

Not having chimney caps can be disastrous to any household, simply for all the dangers that are presented.  One of the most common simply being animals that get stuck, or make their homes in the chimney itself.  This can clog up the body of the chimney, so that smoke won’t successfully flow out of your home.  That means carbon monoxide, and even smoke will be freely flowing throughout your home, which is extremely bad for your lungs.  Plus, if rain can freely flow into your chimney during every storm, that means that moisture can build up, and cause all manner of costly damages to the internal structure.

You can purchase chimney caps from most hardware stores, as they are fairly commonplace.  Just remember to pick out one that works for you.  Some chimney caps feature adjustable setting so that you can increase air flow when you’ll be using the fireplace regularly, and then restrict the opening during the summer.  The choice is up to you, but every chimney needs a cap, so that you can protect your home, as well as every member of your family.