It’s a cold winter night. You’re shivering and walking towards the fireplace to light up a match to the fire logs but wait! You haven’t installed the chimney cap yet! And you don’t even know how right? Don’t you worry!
In this article, we have researched, and written every step on how to install chimney caps but, before installing you must know about the necessity and buying guide for chimney caps.
How To Install Chimney Cap?
After you have bought the perfect chimney cap for your chimney, it’s time to install it properly. If you hire an expert, it will cost you $100-300 for installation (price may vary depending on company, country, and situation) if you are having a hard time, please hire an expert but, if you have some knowledge down below we have given very easy, none confusing steps about installing different types of a chimney cap.
Single flue chimney caps:
Single flue chimney caps do not need any special mechanism to be installed. A single flue chimney cap should cover between one and three inches of the chimney flue, and there should be a minimum of five inches between the two if the chimney flue and chimney lid for the proper airflow. After positioning, screw the sides tightly.
Note: do not attempt this action if you’re not quite comfortable with heights.
Chimney caps with a friction fit:
Friction fits are used when the chimney flue is made of metal. Using a chimney cap with friction can be pretty tough. For the best result, you should hire a professional chimney technician to install it for you. If you want to do it for yourself, it is important to choose the cap your chimney model approves.
If you are having trouble finding the original parts, then you should definitely talk to someone who has enough knowledge about the chimney cap you’re looking for.
If your chimney has two or more pipes which are known as air-cooled flues, you will need a special type of chimney cap to allow the cooling airflow sufficiently.
One’s you get your perfect chimney cap or should be placed easily into the metal flue, and it has to be sealed with a silicone sealer.
Multi-flue chimney cap:
Multi-flue chimney caps are the most challenging to install. It requires drilling holes and extra care. We highly recommend you not to install a multi-flue chimney cap on your own cause, it is really easy to mess up.
But if you’re committed to it then follow the instructions below.
Note: make sure to keep the necessary tools nearby for comfort.
Preparation of the chimney crown:
Before installing a new cap make sure that it will be secured and leak-free. Brush off anyone dirt, debris, and rocks. Do the proper cleaning before going to the next step.
Placing the chimney cap:
Take the chimney cap and, carefully and gently, place it over the chimney crown. Make sure to measure your chimney flue before getting one.
If the size is correct, it should cover the flue holes without any effort. For multiple flue holes, it should leave some place but not a lot. The chimney cap should cover the crown with proper function.
Marking and drilling pilot holes:
Use a pencil to mark the places around the crown indicating where the screws of the chimney cap will be going. After you have marked the areas, get your drill and make pilot holes into the crown.
The pilot hole should be equal to the screws. Make sure to keep your drill straight and steady to prevent blowing up the whole chimney crown.
Add the silicone sealant:
Even though it’s optional, by its always a good idea to add a silicone sealant to seal the chimney cap. Seal the inside and outside of the chimney crown and cap by making a thin line on the edges. Silicone sealant will seal your chimney cap for a long-lasting result.
Placing the cap over the crown:
It’s time to place the cap over the crown, make sure to align the cap with the drilled pilot holes. The holes should be perfectly aligned or else you’ll not be able to screw them well.
Screwing:
Re-check everything before screwing. After you have aligned the cap 100% properly, it’s time to screw. Make sure to hold the structure while tightening the screws. It’s always better if you have a second person with you.
Note: after tightening, you can always give it another turn to ensure that they are engaged fully.
Final work of chimney cap:
After you have done installing, it’s time to check the full setup again. Check if the cap is even and properly aligned with the crown.
Check if there are any holes around the corners and edges. If you find out any cracks that can do damage, then you will need to repair that as soon as possible.
Everything looks good and okay? Congratulations! You have successfully installed a challenging chimney by yourself! Keep on checking the chimney cap once in a while to see if any damage occurred or not.
The Necessity of Chimney Cap:
If you want to keep your chimney safe, a chimney cap plays a big role here. A chimney cap can prevent rain, debris, critters from ruining the chimney. Keep on reading to know how to install a chimney cap.
How to Buy the Proper Chimney Cap?
Before buying a chimney cap you should always measure the length and width of your chimney flue, If you have a circular flue, then measure the diameter instead of length and width. Now there are 3 types of chimney caps. One is called galvanized metal, others are stainless steel and copper.
Your chimney situation and budget will decide which one you are going to get. The most common ones are one that fits over a single flue.
We recommend that you buy a stainless steel or copper chimney cap cause this will look good and go a long way. Galvanized metal chimney caps don’t work on gas logs and will go bad after a short time. Copper chimney caps and stainless steel chimney caps are low maintenance and long-lasting.
Note: double-check the measurements to avoid buying the wrong chimney cap.
Final Words:
In this article, we have tried to help you with installing the chimney cap. We suggest you hire someone if you are not familiar with chimney or chimney accessories. If you are committed to installing a chimney cap on your own then, this article should help you.
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