Chimney Crowns, Caps, and Chase Tops: Making Heads & Tails of the Top of Your Chimney
There’s a lot going on at the top of a chimney, and most of it is unnoticed – until something goes wrong. Then you have no choice but to notice it because damage ignored can turn into an expensive catastrophe.
Chimney Sweeps Inc. of Lakeside, CA, would like to explain a little about the differences among chimney crowns, chimney caps, and chimney chase tops and give you a few pointers on avoiding catastrophes at the top of your own chimney.
Chimney crowns
Chimney crowns are the concrete slabs that are set in place to cover everything at the top of a standard masonry chimney except for the flue opening.
A crown should be built with an angle and have a slight overhang to make water spill away from the masonry. This is important because the longer bricks are exposed to water, the more likely the water will damage them.
The crown also protects the tops of the chimney’s uppermost bricks from the damaging effects of water.
A final job of a chimney crown is to protect the interior areas of the chimney beyond the flue pipe from debris, animals, and – yes – water.
Chimney caps and flue covers
Chimney caps are full-width components that cover the entire top of the chimney. Flue covers cover just the flue opening.
Either a cap or a flue cover will protect the flue from incoming rain, tree debris, and small animals and their nests. Water can damage the flue liner and lead to the escape of smoke, flames, and dangerous combustion gases.
Debris inside a chimney flue will narrow the drafting passage and may cause smoke and carbon monoxide to back up into the house.
Certain animals get into chimneys and can’t get out. They die inside, and the smell is not something you want to have to deal with in your home. A good chimney cap or flue cover prevents this problem.
Chimney chase tops
Chimney chases are built onto the outside of a home to draft a manufactured fireplace set into a wall. Functioning similarly to a “standard” chimney, chases provide a space for the appliance’s vent pipe and are covered with a chimney chase top.
Chase tops are typically made of stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, or some other metal. Stainless steel is preferable for many homeowners because of its low price point and resistance to rust.
As to protection, chase covers – like crowns and caps – keep water, debris, and animals out of the chase system and vent pipe.
Types of damage
When the top of a chimney or chase is unprotected, problems are going to happen sooner or later. Here are some that are common.
- Brick and mortar decay, leading to chimney leaks. Over time, the decay could cause the chimney to lean or collapse.
- Rotting of the chase materials.
- Deterioration of parts of the chimney liner.
- Rust on the fireplace damper, making it hard or impossible to use.
- Backups of smoke and carbon monoxide caused by an obstructed flue.
- Mold grown in unseen areas of the chimney or chase system.
- Horrible smells in your home.
Help for the top of your chimney
If your chimney crown, cap, or chase cover is damaged, we’ll fix it. If you need a cap or chase top installed, we’ll install it. We’ll also inspect your entire chimney to find out if there’s any damage or malfunction that you need to know about. Whatever is wrong, we’ll repair it.
Call your San Diego County chimney experts at Chimney Sweeps Inc. You can also reach out through our contact form.
