A chimney cap is a mesh-sided enclosure that is placed atop the chimney.

It may be made of stainless steel, copper or galvanized steel. It is used to cover the flue in the chimney. Depending upon the geographical location of your house, you may have high wind chimney caps, tiered chimney caps, rain caps and so on. Most of the time, a chimney cap performs all these multiple functions.

Before you buy a cap for your chimney, it is highly recommended that you should carefully measure the size of the flue or flues on your chimney and determine the size of the cap. You should physically measure the size without resorting to guess work.

Take along a metal tape measure, paper and pencil to measure the size of the chimney cap it reeds replacement.

A chimney cap may appear to be an insignificant part of your chimney but it can do a lot of good to your building and fireplace.

It can prevent water, animals, birds, their droppings, leaves, dust and other insects from getting into your home. A once- in -a- while inspection of your chimney cap is well worth your time and can save you a tone of trouble. It can protect your house in several ways.

So while you are up your roof cleaning your home gutters, setting up Christmas lights or adjusting a satellite dish antenna, do spend a few moments to check your chimney cap.

You may find the flue of your chimney or its cap in several situations.

1. The chimney cap itself may have been blown away by the wind.

Although properly secured chimney caps can easily withstand the powerful drafts of the strong winds, it is not an uncommon experience that exceptionally strong wind can blow away the cap leaving your chimney open to several types of unwelcome and damaging intruders.

2. The chimney cap may have become loose

Although not completely blown away, the cap on your chimney flue may have become too loose. The wild animals, high winds or even the wear and tear of the time may have made it insecure at its place. The chimney caps attachment to the flue may have been degraded. You can retighten the screws of the cap or reapply the sealant to secure the cap once again.

3. The chimney cap may have rusted

Chimney caps made of galvanized steel tend to attract rust after three to five years of exposure to the vagaries of weather. This happens more especially in salt water environments which corrode the galvanized steel chimneys caps faster. It is better to have stainless steel and copper chimney caps as they last longer. Moreover they have life time warranties. So they can be replaced free of cost.

4. The sides of your chimney caps may have been clogged

The mesh or the screen sides of your chimney caps may have been chocked with leaves and other matter brought in by the high winds. Besides, the chimney mesh may also have been clogged with the soot and creosote, more especially if you are using unseasoned green firewood.

This kind of clogging frequently takes place with chimney caps are designed with smaller mesh holes for use in wild fire prone areas. If the meshed sides of the chimney caps are chocked, it might reduce the fireplaces draft which in turn may result in poor performance of the chimney.

Chimney caps are usually made up of stainless steel, copper and galvanized steel. Stainless steel delivers best value for your investment. Copper is the most elegant especially for historic and upscale homes.

Some manufacturers coat their stainless steel caps with black or colored heat resistant coatings. Galvanized steel caps are the least expensive and therefore least durable as well. They are usually painted black.

About The Author: Jonathan Goodman is the owner of Market Merchants an online retailer specializing in home and garden products. My passion for bbq grilling and fireplaces is the core focus of Market Merchants. I am a member of the Hearth Patio Barbeque Association (HPBA), the National BBQ group (NBBQ), and the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). We sell these products because we love them and are passionate about consumer living needs. So whether its furniture and decor, home improvement, kitchen and dining, or outdoor living Market Merchants brings a dedicated commitment to the customer and a passion for high quality products. Visit Market Merchants for a wide selection of chimney caps from our fireplace department.