Are you having problems with your chimney cap or chimney damper at your Rochester NY, home? Felgemacher Masonry & Chimney is ready to help with qualified technicians who can repair or replace your damaged chimney cap or damper. We bring 60+ years’ experience to every job.
Rochester Homeowners: What You Need to Know About Chimney Caps
Not all components called “chimney caps” are the same. Some are more like a small hat that sits atop your chimney and shields the flue openings from rain and snow. Other chimney caps are true protective devices. These caps often are called “full hip and ridge custom chimney caps,” and they cover the entirety of the chimney top, protecting not only the flue openings but the critical cement chimney crown and masonry as well.
If your Rochester chimney has no cap or has one that is severely damaged, your flue is open to all sorts of debris such as tree leaves, twigs and the nests of small animals. These obstructions can build up to the point that smoke-drafting is hindered.
When a fireplace isn’t able to draft properly, smoke and dangerous combustion gases can back up into the home. Smoke is bad enough, but the carbon monoxide it carries is proven to be potentially deadly to humans and animals.
Felgemacher’s certified chimney technicians will inspect your existing cap for soundness. When it’s time to install a new, secure cap, we recommend full hip and ridge custom chimney caps, which will give you the ultimate protection
Why Your Fireplace Damper Matter
Dampers are located just above the firebox and operate with a lever to open and close. Many things can cause a damper to be incapable of doing its job including rust that comes from a chimney leak, warping, and plain old age.
In order to properly vent smoke during a fire, your damper must be able to open fully. We regularly work in Rochester NY homes where we’ve been called because of smoke-drafting issues. Often, we find the culprit is a faulty damper. We can repair the damper in some cases; other times, a new damper installation is called for.
When our fireplace and chimney repair specialists install new dampers, we always recommend products from Olympia Chimney Supply, because they’re the finest on the market
Chimney Safety Inspection
Chimney caps and dampers are two very important components in your fireplace/chimney system. As with all the components, these two devices allow your system to operate efficiently and safely. For this reason, we suggest you schedule annual chimney inspections at your Rochester home so we can spot early signs of damage and solve the problem quickly before it becomes a dangerous and expensive issue to deal with.
When you hire the Felgemacher team, you’re getting a level of service and workmanship that has been unmatched since our founding in 1953. We are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Fireplace Institute, and our company is a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild, the New York State Chimney Sweep Guild and the Hearth, Patio, and BBQ Association.
If you live in or around Rochester NY, call us today at (585) 308-4914.