What is a Chimney Chase Cover?

If your house has a prefabricated chimney (one that came with your house), then it has a chase. What is a chase? It's an extended, narrow space that connects to your fireplace and extends to the top of the chimney. Inside your chimney's chase is the flue, which allows toxic gases and smoke to be vented from your fireplace. The shell of a chase is mainly made from wood; it could also be constructed from brick or metal. On top of the shell is a metal cover that shields the whole top of your chase, where the flue emerges.

The cover is called a chimney chase cover. The reason you need a chimney chase cover is to prevent water from accumulating inside the chimney. The original chimney chase cover attached when your home was built has a life expectancy of around seven to ten years; when that period elapses, the chimney chase cap will have rusted away, letting rain and other moisture get inside your chimney.

The History of Chase Covers

In the past, many builders used rust-prone galvanized steel attached in multiple pieces to make a chimney chase cover. The shoddy construction of the chase covers and rust-friendly materials let water into the chimney, and the water infiltrating the chase could destroy the wood inside. Once moisture has penetrated your chase, it can make its way down the chimney to the prefab fireplace's box, and the outer wall will rust, creating a safety risk. 

You must know if your chimney chase cover should be replaced to stop these catastrophes.

Does Your Chimney Chase Cover Need Replacement?

A damaged chimney chase cover can occasionally be easy to notice when rust from the cover runs down the chimney's sides when it rains, and rust streaks will emerge on the side of your chase and roof.