Chimney Chase Top & Chase Cover Installations
At Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney, we install new and replacement chase tops and recommend rust-proof stainless-steel chase covers for homeowners in Knoxville TN and the surrounding area, which includes Jefferson City TN, Pigeon Forge TN, and Oak Ridge TN.
A chimney chase is the structure around metal flue pipes, and a chimney chase top completely covers the top of the chimney chase. Smoke is able to escape through the metal flue, and the chimney chase serves to keep water, animals, and debris out of your chimney system. Chimney chase tops typically come standard with pre-fabricated fireplaces, and the way they fit on the chase looks similar to a standard shoe box lid. Chase tops provided with factory-made fireplaces are typically made with rust-prone galvanized sheet metal. It’s usually necessary to replace this type of chimney chase cover in 7 to 10 years.
It’s important for Knoxville TN homeowners to contact a certified chimney sweep company if there are signs of chimney chase top damage. Usually, a rusty chimney chase top becomes obvious because rusty water creates unsightly discoloration on the chimney. The galvanized coating on chimney chase tops wears away due to exposure to the elements and the heat from fires in the fireplace or wood stove. Once the metal underneath is exposed, the process of rusting begins.
When rusting of a chimney chase cover occurs, it’s important to have a replacement installed as quickly as possible to prevent mold, wood rot, and serious water damage from occurring.
Chimney Chase Cover Materials
You have four options, as far as the material used to build a chimney chase cover: Galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. Information about each type follows.
The least expensive chimney chase toppers are made with galvanized steel. It’s normal for rusting to occur and a replacement to be installed within a few years.
Although aluminum is an option for chimney chase tops, the metal is really too soft to function adequately for this purpose.
The strongest material used to make chimney chase covers is stainless steel. It is more expensive than galvanized steel, but stainless steel never rusts. Homeowners don’t usually ever need to replace a stainless steel chimney chase top.
The highest quality chimney chase tops are made with copper, and they are significantly more expensive than other material types. Copper chimney chase caps are beautiful, and they are the type most often used for fine homes.
Contact Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney
In Knoxville, Jefferson City, Pigeon Forge, Oak Ridge, and throughout the entire greater Knoxville area, Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney is the place to call for chimney chase cover installation. All of our chimney sweeps are trained and certified. We always deliver a customized fit, to meet the exact measurements of the chimney chase. Give us a call if you would like to have your chimney chase topper checked or if there is already substantial discoloration from rust and you would like to have a replacement chimney chase cover installed. Call Four Seasons Fireplace & Chimney today.
