Santa's Friend Chimney Service Blog

It Could Be Time to Replace Your Chimney Cap

Long been recognized as an important chimney safety and damage prevention component, chimney caps have been called by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) as the least expensive preventive measure a homeowner can take to prevent water penetration of the chimney. When water leaks into your chimney, it can cause extensive and costly damage to its masonry materials and other components like the liner and the damper. Santa’s Friend Chimney Service understands the importance of having a chimney cap professionally installed on top of a chimney to keep water from deteriorating the bricks and mortar of the structure. If you do not have a chimney cap installed on top of your chimney or if your existing cap is aging and damaged, fall is the best time to replace your chimney cap because you want to be sure your chimney is protected before the arrival of winter. We would like to tell you more about this crucial part of your chimney system.

Why is it so essential to replace a damaged chimney cap before winter begins?

Without a proper chimney cap protecting your chimney, there is the potential for large amounts of rain and snow to easily enter the chimney flue. Over the course of just one winter season, the freeze/thaw cycles of that winter can cause large amounts of spalling damage which can jeopardize the structure of your chimney. It is especially important to prevent water penetration of a chimney during the cold months of winter to avoid the chipping and breaking apart of bricks and mortar that occurs during spalling.

What are other benefits to having a chimney cap other than preventing water leaks?

A strong, well-designed, and correctly installed chimney cap can keep birds and animals from invading your chimney to nest. Chimney caps are equipped with mesh sidings to prevent animals from getting into the chimney. This meshing also serves as a spark arrestor to keep sparks and hot embers from jumping out of the chimney to ignite a fire on a roof, tree, or yard. Certain types of chimney caps can also improve the draft inside your chimney.

What types of chimney caps does Santa’s Friend Chimney Service sell and install?

Our expert, CSIA-certified chimney technicians recommend installing a chimney cap made from stainless steel or copper because they are more durable and will last longer. We also carry chimney caps constructed from aluminum and electrolytically-painted galvanized iron. We also sell and install chimney caps made from clay, which are also known as pot toppers or chimney pots. If you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, Santa’s Friend Chimney Service can also make a custom chimney cap, which we will also install for you to best protect your chimney.

Is it time to replace your chimney cap? Contact us at Santa’s Friend Chimney Service to schedule an appointment with our experienced chimney technicians.

We Love Serving the Jackson, Mississippi Area

For more than 26 years, the residents of Jackson, Mississippi have counted on Santa’s Friend Chimney Service for their fireplace and chimney needs. Our commitment to safety has made us the top choice for chimney maintenance and sales in the Central Mississippi area. Our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney sweeps provide chimney cleaning, inspection, repairs, sales, and installation services, and we can also prevent devastating house fires by cleaning clothes dryer vent systems. We are proud to serve this area, and we also love living here ourselves. We would like to tell you why we love Jackson, Mississippi.

Musical Heritage

Part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, Jackson has more historical musical markers than any other city in the state. Known as the “City with Soul,” Jackson is home to several blues record companies, including Trumpet Records, Ace Records, and Malaco Records. Legendary blues singers and musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson and Lightnin’ Hopkins recorded albums here. Every August, the city hosts the Jackson Rhythm & Blues Festival, which offers five stages of Mississippi Blues musical acts, along with regional and national Rhythm & Blues artists. We love to catch some of the best blues musicians in the country as well as enjoy delicious Southern cuisine like catfish and barbecue ribs.

Sports and Recreation

Santa’s Friend Chimney Service looks forward to every fall because of college football from the Jackson State University Tigers and the Belhaven University Blazers. We also enjoy playing sports ourselves at the numerous athletic centers, sports fields, and parks throughout Jackson. Fans of sports history love the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Featuring exhibits on famous Mississippi athletes such as Jerry Rice, Archie Manning, Brett Favre, Dizzy Dean, and Ralph Boston, this museum was named by ESPN as one of the top ten most amazing baseball museums in the United States.

If you are fortunate enough to be a resident of the Jackson, Mississippi area, contact Santa’s Friend Chimney Service for all of your fireplace and chimney needs. We provide many services such as repairing and cleaning chimneys. Since the safety of our customers is always our top priority, you can count on our certified staff to reduce fire hazards.