Features and Types
We offer many different styles of multi-flue chimney caps ranging from our utilitarian
stainless steel multi-flue cap to decadent and beautiful copper caps. Non clear-coated copper caps develop a green patina from oxidation in 2-5 years, which is often preferred by homeowners with very old homes (150-200 years) because they look as old as the home is once the patina develops. It is a less garish, shiney, new-look of a coated copper cap which retains its original brilliance. Powder coating options are also now
available in a variety of colors to suit your particular taste.
Not all homes require multi-flue caps but some need it because of the minimum flue-tile spacing required by our standard
caps. If there is not enough space between the terracotta tiles we will recommend our standard stainless steel cap to you.
Multi-flue caps are drilled and anchored into the top of the chimney with a removable lid for cleaning and maintenance if needed.
The size and type of cap is what varies price for multi-flue caps. In general you
can expect to pay approximately the same for one large multi-flue cap on a
3-flue system as 3 individual caps (e.g.: 3 x $149/cap vs $350-450 multi flue
cap).
We recommend multi-flue caps when space is limited and also for better coverage. Styles of multi-flue
caps come in these following colors and types and can be sized out to fit any chimney:
- Stainless Steel - Recommended Finish
- Powder-coated Black, Green, Ivory, Maroon, and many more
- Copper - Clear Coat or Non-Coated (will oxidize green)
- Standard Lids and Oversized Lids available
- Hip and Ridge
- Barrel Style
- Many, many more styles available - ask us!
To schedule an appointment to have your chimney looked at, and a cap priced for your specific needs, please view our contact page.
Lifetime Blow-off Guarantee
All of our caps come with a lifetime corrosion and blow-off guarantee. If it blows off for any reason and is
still salvageable, we will put it back on no questions asked. If it is damaged from the fall and it is not usable, we will replace it with a new cap free of charge.*
If you live in a particularly high wind area please
ask about our wind directional caps--please see specialty
caps to look at our wind directional cobra caps.
With multi-flue caps the only way they have come off the top of the chimney is by pulling the entire top of the chimney off along with it! This
of course only happens in hurricane force winds, but it still has happened here and there.
*NOTE: Caps purchased from us and installed by the customer do not carry this warranty.
Reasons To Have a Cap
There are many reasons to have a cap on your chimney. The two primary reasons are to keep rain water out while also
keeping pests out like birds, squirrels, and raccoons. A customer even told us that once a hawk entered in his chimney and almost
came into his house when he opened the damper--never something you want to happen.
So let's address these reasons in a little more depth. First, by preventing water from entering the chimney you are extending the life of the
flue and masonry both hidden and visible.
Although wood is not as corrosive as oil nor coal, nor high-efficiency gas furnaces, it's exhaust mixture has been chemically analyzed as containing 67 different combustible gases, many of which are corrosive when they are not burned and condense out within the flue system.
Oil is very corrosive
and produces additional condensation. We have found that on average after a period of 40-60
years the inside of a tile lined oil flue becomes very unsafe due to moisture mixing with oil exhaust gases causing severe deterioration
of the tile. Flaking of the tile can lead to cracks, cracks can lead to chunks of tile, and those then can fall and create a blockage at the base of your flue. This can become
a serious problem over night. See more of what can happen and how to prevent these scenarios in the stainless steel liner portion of our site.
Keeping animals out is of course a no-brainer but here is another scenario to consider: When you do not have a chimney cap (or have a poorly designed cap) and are heating your home
in the winter your oil/gas furnace or stove is producing carbon monoxide and heat. Birds are often drawn to the warmth of the chimney and will perch on it
but the poisonous gas will knock them out and they fall down the flue creating a blockage. That same carbon monoxide will start making its way back
into your home creating a very serious and potentially deadly situation for you and your family.
Three Good Reasons to Have a Cap!!! (click image to enlarge)