Chimney caps, crowns and dampers in Wayzata
The cap, crown and damper keep rain, snow, sparks and animals where they belong. Prestige Chimney Sweep installs chimney caps, seals and recasts cracked crowns, and services dampers on homes in Wayzata and around the lake, so water stays out of the masonry and your chimney stays sound.
Chimney cap and crown: what does each one do?
The crown is the sloped concrete or mortar slab across the top of the chimney, pitched so rain runs off toward the edges instead of into the flue. The cap is the mesh-sided metal hood mounted over the flue opening. Together they keep water out of the structure, and water is what wears Minnesota chimneys down fastest.
What a good cap does for you
- Keeps water out of the flue, protecting the liner and damper from rust and freeze damage.
- Blocks animals such as squirrels, raccoons and birds, which find open flues easily on wooded lake properties.
- Stops sparks from landing on your roof, thanks to its spark-arrestor screen.
- Improves draft and cuts down on downdrafts on windy days.
Cracked chimney crown? Seal it or recast it
Cracked crowns turn up often on older Wayzata and Orono chimneys. Small cracks can be sealed with a flexible crown coating, and a badly worn crown gets recast. Either way, closing the cracks early keeps water from working into the masonry below and saves you a far larger repair.
Dampers that stick or let cold air in
The damper closes off the flue when the fire is out. One that sticks, rusts or no longer seals lets warm air escape and cold air drop into the room. If yours is stuck, leave the handle alone, and if it’s stuck closed, hold off on any fire until we’ve freed it. Give us a call and we’ll take it from there. We check the damper on every visit and repair or replace one that has stopped doing its job.
Custom and copper caps
For a distinctive chimney, we install custom stainless and copper caps that look as good as they perform, a small detail that suits the character of a fine lake home.
Cap and crown price ranges are listed in our cost guide.
Caps, crowns & dampers questions
What happens to a chimney without a cap?
Rain and snow fall straight down the open flue, rusting the damper and soaking the masonry from the inside, and birds and squirrels treat the opening as a front door. A cap is a small job that heads off much bigger ones.
What should I do if an animal is in my chimney?
Keep the damper closed so the animal stays in the flue, and never light a fire or burn anything to smoke it out. Call us. We’ll work out the safest way to get it out, and once the flue is clear we fit a properly sized cap with animal-guard mesh.
How do I know if my crown is cracked?
Cracks are usually visible from the roof or in inspection photos, and they often show up first as a chimney leak or staining inside. We check the crown during every inspection and show you what we find.
Keep water and critters out for good.
Standard, custom and copper caps, crown repair and damper service. Serving Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka.