Types of Chimney Caps: Which One Is Right For You?

Chimney caps come in various shapes and sizes. Although they look simple, they’re really essential towards protecting your chimney from a lot of damage and your home from the risk of fire outbreak. By design, chimney caps help prevent buildup of snow, water, and debris that can damage your chimney. More importantly, they ensure that little critters are kept out.

There are different types of chimney caps in the market. You’ll find; single-flue caps, multi-flue caps, spark arrestors, and a couple of others – all in different shapes and sizes. But, having all these types of chimney caps can be confusing. Why? They can’t all fit your chimney. 

In this article, we’ll go through the different types of chimney caps in the market, and the chimneys they’re designed for. This way, you’ll know which fits your type of chimney.

Let’s begin!

Why it’s Important to Choose the Right Types of Chimney Caps 

With chimney caps, there’s no “one size fits all”. You either get the right type of chimney cap for your chimney or you don’t. 

Think of it like choosing the right shoe size. You either get the right size or risk using a painfully uncomfortable or embarrassingly large size. 

Here are some reasons why you need to pick the right type of chimney cap:

• Protect your chimney: an improperly fitted or wrong sized chimney cap leaves your chimney vulnerable to damage and animal invasion. 
• Saves cost: it’s a lot cheaper buying the right chimney cap for your chimney than to spend on avoidable repairs due to using the wrong type. 
• Enhance ventilation: chimney caps help with improving the ventilation and energy management of your home. Having the wrong type simply means your ventilation would be negatively impacted.

With that said, let’s look at the types of chimney caps by flue coverage

Categorizing Chimney Caps By Flue Coverage

The first way to figure out the types of chimney caps is by the type of chimney flue you have. Here are the types of chimney caps by flue coverage:

• Single-flue caps: these types of chimney caps are designed to sit on single-flue chimneys. They’re smaller in size, and could either be rectangular or circular. They’re the most popular in the market

• Multi-flue caps: these types of chimney caps are bigger than single-flue chimney caps. They’re designed for double-flue or multi-flue chimneys, and they’re mostly rectangular.
• Full-coverage caps: they’re chimney caps that are designed to cover the entire chimney crown, rather than sit on just the chimney flue. They generally provide extra protection for the chimney

Now, let’s look at chimney caps based on mounting style

Categorizing Chimney Caps By Mounting Style 

Chimney caps can also be categorized based on the way they’re placed on the chimney. You could either have:

• Flue-mount caps: these are the most popular type of chimney caps. They sit directly on the chimney flue and offer direct protection for the chimney.
• Outside-mount caps: these are also known as surface mounted chimney caps. They’re installed around the chimney, and are like full-coverage chimney caps. Due to their full coverage, they’re easier to clean compared to flue-mounted chimney caps.

Let’s go a little deeper:

Deep Dive Into The Different Types of Chimney Caps

Having known the different types of chimney caps, it’s time to learn a little more detail about each one. Let’s begin:

Single-flue caps 

Single-flue chimney caps are designed for chimneys with single flue tops. The most common type of chimney and chimney caps are single-flue, hence they’re cheaper and more available in the market. Single-flue chimney caps provide direct chimney protection against snow, rainfall, debris buildup, and animal invasion. They are typically made of stainless steel, and feature a mesh that blocks debris and small animals from entering into the chimney. Some models include a spark arrestor to quench potential sparks. Compared to other types, they’re easier to install.

Multi-flue caps 

Unlike single-flue chimney caps, multi-flue chimney caps are designed for chimneys with multiple flue openings. Multi-flue chimneys are usually found in homes with fireplaces and additional ventilation-sensitive appliances like furnaces or boilers. Hence, multi-flue chimneys start from having double-flues.

Multi-flue chimney caps are large by design, and cover multiple flue openings simultaneously. They’re mostly made of stainless steel with a mesh feature to keep off little animals. Also they feature a spark arrestor that quenches sparks and embers from the fireplace. Multi-flue chimney caps are available in different configurations based on the number of flue openings, and they’re more expensive than single-flue chimney caps.

Rather than installing individual single-flue caps, it’s cheaper to install a multi-flue chimney cap which also offers a wider and more durable protection for the chimneys.

Full-coverage caps 

Full coverage chimney caps are known as total coverage chimney caps. These types of chimney caps surround the entire chimney from the base of the flue to the top of the crown. Since they extend beyond the flue, they offer a wider level of protection compared to other chimney caps. What’s more is that they have a unique outlook compared to others, and they’re not easily worn out.

Full-coverage chimney caps are ideal for homes in areas with harsh weather conditions. Rather than spend on chimney repairs, you can use a full-coverage chimney cap instead. 

Moving on.

Factors To Consider When Choosing the Right Cap 

Here are a few things to consider when choosing the right chimney cap for your chimney: 

1. Number of Flues: The most important factor for choosing the right chimney cap is the number of flue openings on your chimney. Single-flue chimney caps are meant for single-flue chimneys, while multi-flue caps are for chimneys with multiple flue openings. You can use full-coverage caps for any kind of chimney; damaged or good. 

2. Climate and Weather Conditions: Different weather conditions call for different chimney caps. Places with heavier wind, rainfall and snow will need a full coverage chimney cap for wider protection. Also, ensure that your chimney cap has a spark arrestor – especially if you’re in a dry region. 

3. Material and Durability: Chimney caps are usually made of stainless steel, copper, and galvanized steel. The strength of your chimney cap is dependent on the material used to create it. For stronger durability, it’s better to get stainless steel chimney caps. 

4. Budget: There are different chimney caps in the market with different prices. If you rarely use your chimney, you might consider cheaper chimney caps. If you don’t want to spend on chimney repairs, you can budget for a full-coverage chimney cap instead.

Choosing a chimney cap is summarily about your needs, budget and preference. 

VEVOR Chimney Caps: Convenient, Durable & Affordable Solutions 

One of the best and most affordable chimney caps in the market are VEVOR chimney caps.  They come in different shapes and sizes that will fit any type of chimney flue. They’re made of durable stainless steel, and are designed to last long and withstand harsh conditions. What’s more is that they come with adjustable metal spark arrestor and a safety mesh to keep out troublesome animals and debris. And the best part is that they’re really cheap and are designed for easy installation.

And there you have it. Let’s recap

Key Takeaways  

• Chimney caps are essential for protecting your chimney. 
• There are two categories of chimney caps; flue coverage and mounting type.
• The cheapest and most popular chimney cap is the single-flue cap.
• You can opt for a full-coverage chimney cap for more comprehensive chimney protection. It’s great, especially for damaged chimneys.
• Chimney caps are easy to install – especially VEVOR chimney caps. But if you’re not sure of what to do, you can check out this article. 

FAQS About the Different Types of Chimney Caps 

Q: What are chimney caps made of?

Chimney caps are mostly made of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and galvanized steel.

Q: What is the best type of chimney cap?

The best type of chimney caps are made of stainless steel. Although single-flue caps are more popular, full-coverage caps provide better protection.

Q: Can I replace or install a chimney cap by myself?

Yes, you can easily install and replace a chimney cap by yourself – especially if you have DIY experience.

Q: How often should I clean my chimney cap?

Generally, you only need to clean your chimney cap once a year. But if you use your chimney a lot, you might consider inspecting the cap frequently.