Many homeowners face or will face the problem of damaged brick chimneys. The damage is usually caused by years of weathering. Bricks deteriorate and the mortar holding the bricks together breaks and powders.

A brick chimney can be spared a very expensive teardown and rebuild with an annual inspection and small repairs. Tuck-pointing mortar holes and cracks and replacing deteriorated bricks will create a sound structure that is properly sealed against the elements and able to stand for decades.

It has been said a chimney without a cap is like a house without a roof.

Imagine how much water would come into your home during a rain or snow storm if you had a hole in your roof thirteen inches square.

Chimney flues may be even larger than that, so where does all that water go? It runs down the chimney and seeps into the bricks and mortar, settling behind the firebricks. There is little air circulation in the chimney (unless you're using it) and no sunlight, so the inside of the chimney stays wet long after the rain stops. This moisture erodes the mortar joints and weakens the brick. Add to this a freeze/thaw cycle during the cold months, and you have all the needed ingredients for a deteriorating chimney.

Take our word for it:

Even though you can't see the damage happening, it's there, slowly deteriorating your beautiful fireplace and chimney. This is a particularly important consideration if you have a metal firebox incorporating a metal damper and smoke shelf. All fireplace dampers made of metal are subject to this deterioration as the water mixes with creosote and mild acids are formed. Even chimneys serving woodstoves are in need of a cover.

All of these things can be avoided by the simple investment in a chimney flue cap.