Chimney cap installation in Chanhassen, MN to keep rain, leaves and animals out of your flue
A chimney cap is a metal cover that sits over the flue opening. It blocks rain and wildlife while letting smoke out. We measure your chimney, fit a cap that suits it and secure it for Minnesota wind and weather.
What is the difference between a chimney cap and a crown?
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab across the top of the chimney. It sheds water off the masonry. The cap is the metal cover over the flue opening itself. A chimney needs both, and each does a separate job.
A cracked crown is a masonry repair, and see chimney repair. A missing cap leaves the flue open to rain, leaves and animals, and a new cap closes it.
Does my chimney need a cap?
If the flue opening is bare, yes. A cap does several jobs at once.
Keeps water out
Rain and snow that fall straight into a flue soak the liner, rust the damper and drip into the firebox.
Keeps animals out
Squirrels, raccoons and birds treat an open flue as a den. The mesh sides of a cap shut that door.
Stops embers and debris
Leaves and twigs drop in without a cap, and sparks can leave the chimney and land on the roof. The mesh holds both.
Signs yours is missing or failing: you see an open flue from the yard, the cap is rusted or bent, the mesh is torn, or you have found leaves and nesting material in the firebox.
Which type of chimney cap is best?
Stainless steel is the usual choice, because it resists rust and holds its shape for years. Galvanized and aluminum caps are lighter-duty and tend to age faster in wet climates. Copper looks distinctive and lasts, though it suits a particular style of house.
The right size matters as much as the metal. A flue liner is a specific size and shape, and a cap that sits loosely rattles or lifts in strong wind. Some caps clamp to the flue tile or liner. Others mount on the crown of a masonry chimney, and wider multi-flue covers span several openings. We measure first, then match the cap to the chimney in front of us.
How is a chimney cap installed?
Check the top
We look at the crown and flue so we know what the cap attaches to and whether anything needs sealing first.
Clear the flue
We remove nests, leaves and any debris from the top of the flue.
Measure and fit
We size the cap to the flue and attach it so it sits level and firm.
Check the draft
We confirm the mesh opening is clear and smoke has a free path out.
Chimney caps for homes under Chanhassen's mature trees
Where tall trees stand close to the roofline, around Chanhassen's lakes and elsewhere, oak and maple leaves, seed pods and twigs drift into any flue left open, and squirrels use the branches as a bridge to the chimney top.
A cap solves both. It is a small addition that spares you from calling for debris removal each spring. And if you already have a cap, a quick check each fall for rust or a loose fit pays off.
We fit caps in Chanhassen, Victoria, Chaska, Carver, Waconia, Excelsior, Shorewood and the towns around them. Birds or other animals already inside? Mention it when you call, and we will clear the flue before the cap goes on.
What affects the cost of a chimney cap?
- The metal: stainless, copper or other
- The size of the flue and how many flues need covers
- The style of mount, since a clamp-on cap and a crown-mounted cover are different jobs
- Roof pitch and chimney height
- Whether animals or debris need to be cleared first
Chimney cap questions
Will a cap affect how my fireplace draws?
A properly sized cap lets smoke flow out freely. A mesh clogged with soot or debris can restrict it, which is why we check it during a sweep.
Can I put a cap on myself?
The work happens on the roof, and a wrong size can rattle loose. We handle the roof work and the fit.
Do gas fireplaces need chimney caps?
Many do, since water and animals reach a gas vent too. The type of cap depends on the vent, so tell us which fuel you burn.
I hear scratching in the chimney. What should I do?
An animal may be inside. Do not light a fire. Call us, and we will remove it and cover the flue so it cannot return. Chimney swifts are the one exception: they are protected birds, so an active swift nest stays until the young have left, and the cap goes on after that.
How do I know a cap has gone bad?
Rust streaks, a tilted body, a torn screen or leaves in the firebox are the usual signs. A cap that rattles on windy days is loose.
Do I need a cap if I have a liner?
Yes. The liner carries smoke, while the cap covers it. The two work together, and our liner installation page explains the liner side.
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below.
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
Further reading
Chimney service across the southwest metro
From our base in Chanhassen (ZIP 55317) we work in every town below.
Minnesota River valley and the southwest metro
What you can count on
- 10 years in the chimney tradeSweeping, inspection and repair on brick and factory-built chimneys
- Licensed and insuredBrickstone Chimney Sweep is licensed and insured
- Open every day, 8 AM to 8 PMCall any day of the week to set a time
Further reading