A chimney cap is an important part of any chimney. When your chimney is exposed to excess moisture, a lot of deterioration can occur, decreasing your chimney’s lifespan and costing you a lot in repairs. Chimney caps work to keep bad weather and excess debris away from your chimney, thus protecting it for years to come.
While keeping rain and debris away is important, there is another huge advantage to owning a chimney cap that people often overlook – keeping out animals. While squirrels, birds, and other critters usually seem harmless enough, they can have a lot of negative impacts on your chimney’s overall health. Check out these chimney issues caused by wildlife.
Often times, especially during the winter, animals will try to build nests in various places throughout your chimney. If these places are used for venting you could end up experiencing a lot issues with circulation, causing smoke to back up into your home. If proper ventilation is not happening, your family could be exposed to harmful toxins and the fumes will likely soak into your walls and furniture, making them very hard to get rid of.
With animals come a wide variety of smells, most of which no one wants to welcome into their home. If an animal chooses to build their nest with something stinky or wants to store away a moldy treasure for later use, your chimney often becomes an ideal place to stash it. The smells then work their way down the chimney and into your home. There is also the case of an animal entering your chimney, then not being able to escape. When is eventually passes away, it stinks and attracts flies, maggots, and more nasty odors.
It is not uncommon for animals to try and make a home for themselves within your chimney. All too often, though, they soon discover the chimney leads to an even bigger home – yours. Eliminate the chances of a bird, raccoon, or squirrel entering your home by getting a chimney cap installed right away. Once these critters get in, getting them out safely is extremely difficult and often requires the help of a professional.
If you want your chimney cap to fight against the weather and keep these pesky creatures out, you will need to ensure you are getting the right product for your needs. An extra mesh lining will often do the trick, but it will depend on your specific chimney. Each home is different and you will want to purchase your product based on what will work best for your home and needs.
Hiring a certified expert to inspect your chimney and properly install a chimney cap based upon what you have is always the best option. Call Olde Town Chimney Sweeps today to ensure that your home is protected and your chimney is safe for use.