Chimney Caps Fitted Across NY, NJ and Philadelphia
A cap is a metal hood with a mesh screen that sits over the flue. It keeps rain off the damper, keeps birds and squirrels out and stops sparks from landing on the roof. Plenty of chimneys here have no cap at all, or one that rusted thin and blew loose long ago.
About Chimney Cap Installation
A chimney cap has three working parts. The lid or hood sheds rain and snow. The mesh screen around the sides keeps animals out and stops large embers. The mounting holds it all in place against wind that can be strong at the top of a house. On a single flue, the cap usually clamps around the outside of the clay tile or slips into the opening. On a top with several flues, one cap can be mounted to the crown to cover them all.
Caps here face more than rain. Squirrels and raccoons test mesh constantly, and a raccoon can tear through thin screen. Nor'easters and winter gusts work loose fasteners and lift caps that were only friction-fit. Near the ocean on Long Island and the Jersey Shore, salt air pits and rusts lower-grade steel. Many caps found on chimneys are galvanized and have rusted through, or were sized for a different flue and sit crooked.
A cap that lasts starts with an accurate measurement of each tile, including how far it rises above the crown. The material should outlast the weather, so stainless steel or copper is the usual choice. Mesh size follows local code and the appliance below, since fine mesh can clog on oil and some gas appliances. The cap is fastened mechanically, not just pressed on, and the lid height leaves enough clearance for exhaust to leave freely.
What Our Crew Does
- Every flue on the top counted and its appliance identified
- Tile size, shape and height above the crown measured
- Cap style and mesh chosen to suit the fuel and local code
- Old rusted or loose cap removed and the tile top cleaned
- Animals and nests confirmed gone before the flue is closed
- Cap fixed to the tile or crown with screws, clamps or anchors
- Lid height and exhaust clearance checked for heating flues
When to Call Us
- You can see straight down the flue from the roof
- The old cap is rusted, bent or hanging
- Leaves and twigs keep landing in the firebox
- Rain drips onto the damper during storms
- Several flues share one chimney top and only some are covered
How the Job Goes
- Count the flues
We note every flue on the chimney and what vents into each one: fireplace, boiler or water heater.
- Choose the cap
A single-flue cap or one cap over the whole top, with a screen suited to the fuel below it.
- Fasten it down
The cap is fixed to the flue tile or the crown so wind does not lift it off.
- Confirm the exhaust
For flues serving a boiler or water heater, we check that the exhaust leaves freely once the cap is on.
Your Options
Fits one tile and clamps around it. Simple and easy to remove for sweeping.
Bolted to the crown, covering every flue at once. It also keeps rain off the crown.
Stainless resists rust and is the common choice. Copper lasts and weathers to a brown or green patina that suits some houses.
Combines the cap and a damper that closes the flue at the top. Useful when the throat damper is missing or broken.
Designed to steer gusts away from the flue on chimneys that suffer from downdraft in wind.
What Affects the Cost
- Number and size of flues, and whether one cap or several are used
- Material: galvanized, stainless steel or copper
- Custom sizing for oversized, oval or unusual tiles
- Crown repairs needed before a crown-mounted cap can be anchored
- Wildlife or a nest that has to be cleared before the flue is closed
- How high and steep the roof is at the chimney
Every job starts with a free written estimate, so you know the price before we start.
When It Cannot Wait
- A cap hanging off the flue or lying in the gutter
- Animals going in or out of the top of the chimney
- A soot-clogged screen with smoke backing into the room
- Rain pouring onto the damper during storms
Make It Last
- Have the mesh cleaned at each sweep so soot does not build up on it
- Trim tree limbs near the chimney so squirrels cannot jump to the top
- Check after high winds that the cap is still seated straight
- Keep any removed cap off the roof and replace it before the next storm
Questions About Chimney Cap Installation
Stainless steel or galvanized?
Does an oil or gas flue need a special cap?
Will a cap keep animals out?
Does the cap have to come off for every sweep?
Can a cap be painted or color matched to the roof?
What if my flue tile barely sticks up above the crown?
Guides From Our Crew
Does My Chimney Need a Cap?Almost every working flue benefits from a cap.
Copper vs Stainless Steel Chimney CapsBoth metals make a long-lasting chimney cap, so the choice usually comes down to looks, the fuel in the flue and what sits below the chimney.
Multi-Flue Chimney Caps: When One Cap Covers AllA multi-flue chimney cap is a single wide cover over the whole top of a chimney with two or more flues.
How Much Does Chimney Cap Replacement Cost?Four things set the price of a new chimney cap: the size and shape of the flue, how many flues need covering, the metal, and how hard the chimney is to reach.
Does a Furnace or Boiler Chimney Need a Cap?A boiler or furnace flue needs a cap at least as much as a fireplace flue, because it vents daily through the heating season and often year round with a water heater.
Can a Chimney Cap Cause a Downdraft?A cap can cause downdraft, but only in specific cases: mesh clogged with soot or leaves, a hood set too low over the flue, or a cap too small for the opening.
Why homeowners call Pro 1
18,000+ Chimney Jobs. One Standard.
15+ years and 18,000+ chimney jobs taught us what homeowners want: a crew that shows up, explains it plainly and leaves the house as clean as they found it.
$500 OFF any chimney service
- Our own local crews
The people at your door work for us and live in the area. We never send subcontractors.
- Licensed and insured
Your home and our crew are covered on every job, from a sweep to a full rebuild.
- Free written estimate
You see what we found and what it takes to fix it, in writing, before any work starts.
- Upfront pricing
The price we write down is the price you pay. No hidden fees and no surprise add-ons.
- Fast response
Open 24 hours Sunday to Friday, with a real person on the phone and same-day visits when we can.
- Clean, careful work
Floors and furniture covered, the roof and yard cleaned up, and a walk-through when we finish.
Limited time offer
$500 OFF
Any chimney service. Mention it when you call or book online.
Simple from the first call
How It Works
- Your callCall, text or book online
Tell us what you see or smell. A real person from our team answers and sets a time that suits you.
- The visitFree chimney inspection
Our own crew arrives in a marked Pro 1 van, covers the floor and inspects the chimney from the firebox to the cap, free of charge.
- The estimateFree written estimate
We walk you through what we found, in plain words, and put any repair in writing before work starts.
- The workThe job, done right
We do the work, clean up the roof, the yard and the room, and walk you through the finished job.
Book before the holidays. Fireplaces get their heaviest use from Thanksgiving to New Year. A free inspection now catches nests, creosote and cracked flue tiles before the first big fire and the family gatherings.
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