Dear Visitor, There are two airflow environments related to chimney caps. External airflow wind is accountable for creation low air pressure around a chimney. Chimney Fireplace Repair Cost Guide. Fireplaces are aesthetically pleasing and they provide an economical way to heat your home during the winter. Acoustica 31 Band Eq Windows. They also last a lifetime if cared for properly, but they need to be repaired from time to time. If you are noticing water in your fireplace, smoke not filtering through the chimney correctly, or any other oddity with your fireplace, do not continue to use it as it could be a fire hazard. Depending on the type of repair needed, your costs can vary greatly. On This Page Sweeping. Cracks. Water Leaks. Crown Repair. Other Common Fireplace Repairs. Other Common Chimney Repairs. Common Wood Stove Repairs. Signs You Need to Call a Pro. In Conclusion. Chimney Sweeping 1. Sweeping your chimney is necessary to reduce the risk of a devastating fire. Fires can occur when a build up called creosote gets too thick. Creosote resin is what gets left behind in your chimney as you burn wood. This resin is flammable and must be cleaned out regularly. Creosote is a wood preservative used to cure beech wood and other common burning woods. Burning a log releases creosote resin with the smoke which collects in your chimney This oily substance, creosote, can re ignite from sparks rising in the chimney. Therefore, its important to keep these walls free of creosote build up. If you have wood that is burning slowly or not burning at all, you may need to clean out the creosote in the chimney flue. Routine cleaning can keep the creosote from building up to dangerous levels. A way to test to see if you need to have your chimney swept is to shine a flashlight up the chimney and scratch at the build up on the walls. If its an eighth of an inch or thicker, you need to have your chimney swept by a professional. If its a quarter of an inch thick, you need to have it cleaned immediately. Creosote can affect any kind of wood burning appliance, so even a wood stove needs to be inspected and cleaned out at least every year. Return to Top. Maintenance Tips. While a proper sweeping of your chimney should be done by a professional, there are a couple of things you can do to help make cleanings easier Citrus or Potato Peels Burning citrus or potato peels can help keep your chimney safer. Citrus peels are said to prevent creosote build up while potato peels are said to form a chemical reaction that dries out the creosote and helps keep it from bursting into flame. While this is a safety measure, it doesnt replace a professional cleaning. The creosote will still build up and clog your chimney, causing smoke and carbon monoxide to begin flowing into your house. Cleaning Logs Chimney cleaning logs release a chemical that loosens creosote and tar and causes it to fall away from your chimney walls. Of course, this means it is falling either into your fire or onto any ledges in your chimney. While it can keep your chimney safer, it doesnt do the same kind of job a professional cleaning will do. Cleaning logs cost about 1. DIY The truly ambitious might decide to clean their own chimneys. Chimney Caps, Chimney Covers. Call 8772446349 We Install Chimney Caps. Also known as chimney. Spark Arrester Chimney cap spark arrestors help to prevent. Dangers-of-a-Leaky-Chimney-Image-Minneapolis-MN-Jack-Pixley-Sweeps.jpg' alt='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' title='How To Install A Chimney Spark Arrestor' />Many products for this job are available and affordable, and cost around 2. However, you would also need to buy a chimney brush about 1. The process is labor intensive and time consuming, and doing it yourself doesnt include a professional inspection to identify cracks or other damage. When to Call The best time to call for a chimney sweeping and inspection is during the off season, between April and September. Prices are often lower and it will give you time to remedy any situations discovered during the inspection. Hire a Local Fireplace Repairman Today. Return to Top. Cracks 1. Masonry joints expand and contract with seasons and temperature fluctuation. This can lead to cracks forming and allowing smoke, carbon monoxide, and sometimes even stray embers to get between your walls our out of the chimney and onto your roof. Cracks will most often form at corners before they form anywhere else. However, cracks in the middle of the back of a fireplace arent uncommon. If found early enough, simple brick mortar repair can resolve the issue. If left untreated, they can lead to structural damage, increased risk of fire, and can cost upwards of around 3,0. If all you have are some cracks to be repaired, you can expect to pay around 1. A complete rebuilding of your chimney from the crown to just below the roofline can cost 1,0. If the entire chimney all the way down to the fireplace needs to be replaced, it can cost around 1. Return to Top. Water Leaks 1. Water can get in through cracks see above and cause damage in the form of mold and wood rot. These cracks are usually at the roofline when flashing and sealers fail and allow rainwater to seep inside. Also, the water is acidic and when it combines with creosote, dampers can get rusted and fail. The water can destroy existing mortar and damage wood near the fireplace, such as ceilings and floors. Repairing this part of your fireplace can be either DIY or a professional job. Depending on the height and slope of your roof, you may want to leave it to a contractor. However, if you have a head for heights, replacing the flashing and resealing the cracks can cost about 1. Return to Top. Crown Repair 1. The crown of your chimney does more than just keep rain from coming down the flue and into your home. It protects the brick and mortar of the chimney as well as keeping pests out of your home. Not only does it keep things out, it also keeps things in, preventing sparks from flying out of your chimney and landing on your roof. The crown is like a cap that should extend past the bricks of the chimney and over the chimney flashing. It should slope away from its center to ensure that water drains off of it, like an umbrella. The covered cage part that you often see atop chimneys is the spark arrestor. It keeps sparks and embers from going out of the chimney and landing on your roof, possibly starting a fire. Cracks that form in the crown can be particularly costly if left unrepaired. Water can get into the cracks and cause significant damage to mortar, bricks, and even the wooden frame of your house. If it freezes, it will expand and cause the cracks to get larger and to create even more cracks. Eventually, these cracks will compromise the integrity of your whole chimney and fireplace, requiring it to be replaced or removed altogether. This can cost thousands of dollars. Return to Top. Other Common Fireplace Repairs. The place in fireplace refers to what is known architecturally as the fire box. This is usually made of brick or stone due to the heat retaining qualities of these materials. Sometimes a firebox will be metal, thanks to its resistance to cracking. But a fireplace isnt limited to being a built in firebox. Other forms that a fireplace can take include an outdoor fireplace different from a fire pit due to the presence of a chimney structure or a fully operational wood stove. Brick and stone fireplaces have a lot of the same common repairs needed, most frequently requiring mortar repair. Cracks are most prone to form at joints and corners and should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid costlier repairs later. However, excessive moisture can be absorbed by bricks and porous stone, causing these materials to break themselves. The acidic combination of water and creosote can also cause a breakdown of the materials if cracks are not seen to and chimneys are not properly maintained. Chimney Cap Installation Cost Average Price to Install a Chimney Cap. On this page Whats Involved with Installing a Chimney Cap Do I Need a Chimney CapFactors Affecting Cost. Things to Consider. Before You Begin. Cost Comparisons. Level of Difficulty. Find a Pro. Installing a chimney cap is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to prevent water, debris, unwanted drafts, and small animals getting into your fireplace and your house. A chimney cap is a metal bonnet that fits over the chimney flue. It consists of a solid metal barrier attached to a metal mesh cage. The mesh part of the chimney cap keeps animals, birds, leaves and other debris out of the chimney while allowing combustion gases to escape. The solid barrier sits directly over the flue and acts like a roof, preventing snow and water from getting into the chimney. The cap attaches directly to the flue or to the masonry or brick edging around the chimney opening. The Uniform Building Code does not require chimney caps, but they are a requirement in some communities. Whether or not your community is one of those that requires them, there are several good reasons for installing a cap on your chimney. Whats Involved with Installing a Chimney Cap Pricing the Cap. A basic chimney cap made from galvanized steel costs less than 3. Caps made from different materials and with features such as spark arresting screens and larger bases that can fit chimneys with more than one flue cost more, but you shouldnt have to pay more than 2. Cost of Installation. In most cases, installation of the cap involves little more than securing it to the chimney or the chimney liner and sealing the base with caulk. The entire procedure usually doesnt take longer than about 2 or 3 hours. If your chimney isnt too high, and the roof not too steep, the cost of installation shouldnt exceed about 1. Who Should I Call If a worker can walk on your roof unaided by anything other than basic safety requirements such as rubber soled shoes and can easily reach the chimney opening, you can save money by having a handyman install your chimney cap. If the roof is steep or tiled, however, and harnesses, roof jacks, scaffolding or high ladders are required for safety, its better to call a roofing specialist who has all the necessary equipment and knows how to use it, and that will cost a bit more. Youll also need a roofing specialist or a chimney specialist to make repairs to the chimney if any are needed before you can install the cap. Do I Need a Chimney Cap Keep Your Chimney Dry. Rainwater can damage chimneys. It hastens corrosion of a metal liner, which can greatly shorten its service life. If your chimney doesnt have a liner, water can seep through cracks in the brick or masonry flue and damage the walls around the chimney as well as the framing. A chimney cap keeps the water out. Keep Pests Away. Rats, birds and other small animals often seek shelter in chimneys, and their nests can block airflow and prevent your fire from burning efficiently. Rats and squirrels are especially resourceful and may use the chimney to access your living room and kitchen. The mesh barrier on a chimney cap is designed to deny these pests access to your chimney and your house. Control Drafts. If you feel cold on a windy day, it may be because your chimney has a downdraft. A chimney cap helps regulate this downdraft, and that can make it easier to start a fire. On the other hand, you may notice that your fire burns inefficiently and goes out easily because the flue opening is too wide. A chimney cap can also help correct this problem by creating a smaller opening that actually improves the updraft when a fire is burning. Protect Surrounding Vegetation from Fires. The embers from your fire can remain hot long after they leave your chimney, and if any glowing embers land on parched vegetation, a fire could result. The wire mesh on chimney caps acts as a spark arrestor that controls the release of hot embers. This is one reason why some communities require caps on chimneys. Factors Affecting Cost. Types of Chimney Caps. Chimney caps can be made of galvanized steel which is the least expensive material, stainless steel, aluminum, or copper which is the most expensive and decorative. Moreover, chimney caps can be small enough to fit over a single flue or large enough to cover multiple flues, and large caps cost more than small ones. Some chimney caps include an active turbine system to control downdraft and improve airflow, while others have close mesh for better spark control. Both features add to the cost of the cap. Installation Costs. Working from a tall ladder or on a steep roof is dangerous, and it often requires special equipment. If the installers dont have this equipment, they have to rent it either way, theyll pass the cost to you in the form of a surcharge. In many cases, its possible to screw the cap directly to the chimney liner, but in some cases, the cap may have to be anchored to the brick or set in fresh concrete, and that also adds to the installation cost. When the installers inspect the chimney, they may discover that its cracked or unstable, and that it needs repair. That will also lead to extra charges. Things to Consider. Difficulty of Installation. In most cases, installing a chimney cap is a simple project that doesnt involve any modifications to the chimney or the fireplace. The cap, which must be sized to fit snugly onto the chimney, can either be screwed to the chimney liner which is usually metal or it can be anchored to the chimney edging. After securing the chimney cap, the installer then seals the edges with silicone sealant to ensure the proper flow of combustion gases and keep water out of your chimney. Accessibility. The height of the chimney is a factor that affects cost high chimneys that require ladders or scaffolding are more expensive to retrofit than low ones. You should also expect to pay more if your roof is steep and installers need roof jacks or scaffolding to work safely. Other accessibility issues, such as roof tiles, excessive vegetation around the house and seasonal hazards, such as ice, also affect the labor costs. Before You Begin. Know Whats Involved. Not all chimney cap installations are standard ones. Both the type of cap you choose and the difficulty involved with installing it can affect your final cost. Moreover, you may have to pay for some chimney repair before you can install a cap. Your pro may not know the scope of the job before he gets on the roof to take a look, so be sure to find out if any repairs or extra work are involved. Plan Ahead. Before you call anyone, go on your roof if its safe to do so and take a few measurements. You need to know the dimensions of the chimney perimeter, as well as those of the flues or chimney liner. If your chimney has multiple flues, you need to know how many there are. You also need to know whether the chimney has rectangular, oval or circular flues or liners. That information will help you choose the right cap for your chimney. Cost Comparisons. Low. Average. High5. If you choose a galvanized steel cap and are able to install it yourself, you only need to pay for the cap, screws and silicone sealant. If you cant do the work yourself, but the job isnt too difficult, add a nominal installation fee. If the task requires special equipment, techniques or repairs to your chimney, the costs go up accordingly. DIY Installation 5.