Chimney Cap Airflow

Prevents debris rain and pests from entering chimney while maximizing airflow.

Chimney cap airflow.

When you brick up the fireplace you need to fit either an air brick or a plastic metal vent to allow air flow through the stack. Because they are so specialized they. There are actually two distinct though related factors affecting chimney performance. The same problem occurs if your house is located at the base of a mountain.

Many codes require a california home to have a chimney cap when it is sold or re roofed. R1003 9 3 rain caps where a masonry or metal rain cap is installed on a masonry chimney the net free area under the cap shall be not less than four times the net free area of the outlet of the chimney. But maybe your chimney is short and next to a larger part of the house or a bigger building. Unlike the wind directional tops the wind blocking chimney caps do not move with the airflow but instead are designed to increase the wind speed in order to create a partial vacuum.

Draft is the force behind flow while capacity is the capability to handle flow. Finally sometimes air actually blows down the chimney but less frequently than you d guess it s usually something else. In fact having a plugged up chimney cap at the end of your chimney is like having a closed nozzle at the end of a hose preventing airflow through the chimney. Chimney caps reduce fire hazards and discourage backdrafts.

Maintaining adequate airflow through your chimney is also critical for a well functioning fireplace. You can then apply adhesive for a more secure fit. Wind blocking copper caps. Double wall air insulated metal chimneys.

Excessive creosote deposits closed or plugged dampers improper construction structural damage or even a dirty chimney cap. A chimney needs a vent not just at the top provided by the cap but also at the bottom. Your csia certified chimney sweep can check your chimney and recommend any corrective action needed for proper draft and flow. Needless to say it s important to keep your fireplace chimney and wire mesh cap clean and regularly maintained.

It in turn ensures all the smoke smells and flue gas are pulled up and out of the chimney. Before lighting a fire in your home you should always check your chimney for debris and other materials. Chimney caps that slip into the flue slip in chimney caps are designed to literally slide right into your flue. The air flow helps keep the chimney dry and ward off any condensation forming inside the stack.