Chimney chase tops are the protective covers on top of pre-built chimneys. Commonly made of lower-grade galvanized steel, chase tops are prone to rust.
A rusty chase top/chase cover is problematic for these two main reasons:
Because these flat or slightly angled covers are way up at the top of your chimney, it’s easy to miss the beginning of rust. Usually, homeowners aren’t aware of a rusty chase top until rust starts spilling down the sides of the chase.
National Chimney Service works throughout Fairfield County CT and Morris County NJ to help our customers keep their chimneys in top shape all year long. One of the jobs we provide is chimney chase top replacement.
If rusting is minor, we’ll install a new stainless steel chase top, which is resistant to rust caused by water and climate changes. It will serve you well for many years.
If your chase top is rusted through and we suspect moisture intrusion has infiltrated the interior spaces below it, we’ll recommend a thorough inspection.
During the inspection, we’ll be looking for signs of water damage, rot and mold growth. Should we find any of these problems, we’ll talk with you about the best way to address them prior to installing a new chase top as it’. We never want to add a strong new chase top over damaged areas.
The reason you can’t just “cover-up” interior chimney damage is because both water and mold are progressive problems. Once deterioration starts, it usually continues until a major safety or operational hazard exists. Mold is a living substance that spreads on its own, without assistance from more moisture.
Water Damage in a ChimneyWater damage from a leaky chimney can affect the entire chimney structure as well as adjacent areas of the home including wallboards, rafters, beams, flooring, and insulation.
Depending on the materials used to build your chimney or chase, the destruction from a leak can happen fairly quickly and put you, your family, and your home at risk.
Another concern with rotted areas within a chimney structure is the escape of harmful combustion gases when the fireplace is in use. A chimney is designed to channel smoke and its byproducts up and out of the home. If the chimney is seriously damaged, smoke and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide can filter back into the home’s interior air.
Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless – and is known to be potentially fatal when inhaled by humans and animals.
And, of course, we’ve all heard the reports on mold, which can cause major upper respiratory ailments and even death in severe cases.
All this starts with water in a compromised chimney system. Our crew is here to keep it from happening.
Call (973) 270-9295 in NJ or at (203) 614-9765 in CT if you know or believe your chase cover is rusted or otherwise damaged. We’ll perform a thorough inspection and tell you exactly how to solve the problem now and what you can do in the future to prevent similar problems.
National Chimney Service works in Stamford CT, Morristown NJ, Norwalk CT, Chester NJ, and all other cities and towns in Morris and Fairfield counties.
