Chimney Cap & Chimney Damper Repair

Custom Chimney Caps | Flue Cap Covers | Dampers

Chimney caps, flue cap covers and dampers often get overlooked, but both are critical to the safe and fluent operation of your fireplace and chimney. Felgemacher Masonry & Chimney provides expert chimney cap and damper repairs and installation throughout Buffalo NY, Rochester NY, Hamburg NY, Pittsford NY, Cheektowaga NY, Webster NY, Amherst NY, and other Western New York communities.

Two of the most important components within a chimney/fireplace system are the chimney cap at the top, and the fireplace damper at the bottom just above the firebox. When either of these components are damaged, you could be facing big repair costs down the line and a serious reduction in comfort levels in your home. Let’s look at each component in-depth.

Chimney Dampers

Fireplace (or chimney) dampers in most cases are installed above the firebox and operated with a handle to open and close. Some dampers are designed to sit at the top of the chimney and are referred to as top-sealing dampers.

Your damper has three very important functions:

• Regulate the amount of air/draft that moves into the firebox when a fire is burning
• Keep outside air from getting in the home when the fireplace isn’t in use
• Keep conditioned inside air from escaping through the chimney

A damper that’s in good working shape will accomplish all these functions. However, your damper may be rusted or otherwise damaged and can no longer fully open or close. In this case, a professional chimney inspector should take a look at the damper and determine if repairs can be made or if a new damper needs to be installed.

Custom Chimney Caps

Chimney caps sit atop the chimney and, like dampers, have some critical functions:

• Prevent water from snow and rain from getting into the flue and causing damage
• Keep tree debris and small animals (and their nests) out of the chimney
• Block fiery embers and sparks from leaving the top of the chimney and landing on the roof

Chimney caps can become rusted or warped; in some cases, they were never installed correctly in the first place. A faulty chimney cap is a major cause of a leaky chimney, masonry water damage, flue liner decay and other unwanted problems. A chimney cap inspection should be performed yearly, along with an inspection of all other areas and components within a fireplace/chimney system. problems. A chimney cap inspection should be performed yearly, along with an inspection of all other areas and components within a fireplace/chimney system.

Damper & Chimney Cap Installation

When it’s time to replace a damaged fireplace damper, Felgemacher Masonry & Chimney recommends products from Olympia Chimney Supply, which makes a full line of outstanding dampers that are preferred by hearth-industry professionals throughout the U.S.

For chimney cap installation, we recommend a new full hip and ridge custom chimney cap for the best performance and long life. Our crews will install the exact-size, high-quality damper or cap to ensure that your system runs safely and optimally. A flue cap cover will cover the flue opening, but will leave the cement chimney crown unprotected from the elements.

If you haven’t had your chimney cap or damper looked at recently by a professional, Felgemacher Masonry & Chimney is here to help. We’ve been satisfying our customers with unmatched service since 1953 and provide damper and chimney cap installation in all Buffalo NY neighborhoods and Rochester NY neighborhoods and all cities and towns in between.

Only a chimney expert will do quality work for chimney repairs and installs, call (716) 907-4914 in the Buffalo area or (585) 308-4914 in and around Rochester. Visit our FAQ page.