The short answer
A chimney cap keeps rain, animals, and debris out of your flue. A chase cover seals the top of a framed chimney so water can't soak the structure below. EverSafe Chimney Sweep inspects the chimney, measures it, and installs a properly fitted cap or cover. We clean up both inside your home and on the roof.
The top of your chimney takes more weather than almost any other part of your house. A chimney cap covers the flue opening with a metal hood and a mesh screen, which keeps out rain, birds, squirrels, and blown leaves. A chase cover is the metal panel that seals the top of a framed chimney chase, the boxed-in enclosure around a factory-built fireplace or appliance vent. When either one is missing, rusted, or loose, water and animals get into the system and cause problems that cost more to fix than the cap itself. EverSafe Chimney Sweep installs and replaces chimney caps and chase covers for homeowners in Brooklyn and nearby areas. That includes brownstones and rowhouses with flat roofs as well as detached homes with pitched roofs. Our certified technicians inspect the flue before anything goes on top, so the new cap or cover fits a chimney that is ready for it.
Signs you need it
Most owners first notice the effects of a failed cap or chase cover inside the house, not on the roof. Water and animals both take the easiest way in, and a missing or rusted top gives them one. If you notice any of the signs below, schedule a look before the next heating season. Small leaks and nests usually get worse over the winter.
- Water dripping or pooling in the firebox after rain or snow
- Rust stains on the firebox, damper, or the metal parts of a prefab fireplace
- Scratching, chirping, or other animal noises inside the chimney
- Twigs, leaves, nesting material, or brick flakes falling into the firebox
- White staining on the chimney brick, which points to water moving through the masonry
- A musty or smoky smell from the fireplace, especially in humid weather
- Poor draft or smoke backing up after debris has collected in the flue
- A chase cover that looks rusted, sagging, or dented so that water pools on top
What's included
Every cap or chase cover job starts with checking the chimney, not just measuring the opening. A new cap on top of a damaged crown or a clogged flue won't solve the problem. We want you to know what's going on before we install anything.
- Inspection of the chimney top, crown, and flashing from the roof
- Interior check of the firebox and damper for water damage or debris
- Camera view of the flue when we see signs of water damage, nesting, or blockage
- Removal of nesting material and debris from the flue opening and smoke shelf
- Measurement of each flue, or of the full chase top for a chase cover
- A stainless steel cap with mesh screen sized to your flue, or a custom-fit chase cover with a raised center so water drains off
- Secure fastening, plus sealing at the chase cover edges
- A walk-through of photos and findings, along with any repair recommendations
How our crew works inside your home and on the roof
Inside, we lay drop cloths from the door to the fireplace and cover the hearth before we open the damper. If we have to clear debris or nesting material from the smoke chamber, we use rotary brushes and run a HEPA vacuum the whole time, so soot and dust stay out of your living space. When we need to see further up the flue than a flashlight can reach, we run a camera and show you the footage.
On the roof, we set up safe access before any work begins. For a flat roof, that is usually a hatch or a bulkhead. For a pitched roof, it is ladders and fall protection. We take off the old cap or cover and check the metal underneath for corrosion. Then we fit the new piece so it sits tight and doesn't rattle in the wind. Old metal and debris leave with us, and we sweep the work area before we climb down.
The standard we follow
The NFPA 211 standard calls for chimneys, fireplaces, and vents to be inspected once a year. Installing a cap is a good time to do that inspection. Chimney professionals use three inspection levels. Level 1 applies when nothing about the system has changed. Level 2 applies when the system changes, for example with a new appliance or a switch of fuel, or when the home is sold. Level 3 is for a hidden hazard that can only be reached by opening part of the chimney or the building.
For most cap and chase cover work, a Level 1 inspection is enough. If you have converted your boiler from oil to gas, the chimney has to be evaluated as part of that work. A new liner is often needed because gas exhaust produces acidic condensate that can corrode a masonry flue. In that case we look at the liner and the cap together, so the top of the chimney fits the new setup.
What affects the price
We give you a clear quote after we have seen the chimney. These are the main factors that change the scope of the job:
- Chimney height and how hard it is to reach the roof safely
- Number of flues and their size, and whether one cap can cover several
- Fuel type the chimney serves, since that affects the cap style and material
- Condition of the crown, flashing, and flue
- How much debris or nesting material has to be cleared
- Whether you need a standard cap, a multi-flue cap, or a custom chase cover
- Whether a camera inspection or repairs are needed before installation
How a visit works
When you contact us, we ask about the symptoms you've noticed, your fuel type, and how to reach your roof. On the day of the visit, the technician protects the room, checks the firebox and damper, then goes up to inspect and measure the top of the chimney. Many standard caps can be installed on that first visit. Chase covers and custom multi-flue caps are made to measure, so we may come back to install them.
Before we leave, we show you photos of the chimney top and point out anything else that needs attention. Because New York City's heat season runs from October 1 through May 31, the late summer and early fall are a good time to book. That way the chimney is sealed before you start using it.