A chimney performs critical tasks in allowing smoke and toxins to be vented from the firebox to the outside air while providing a safe barrier between intense heat and surrounding building materials of the home. No chimney, however, can do its job optimally without that little thing that sits on the top – the chimney cap.

Running a fireplace without a chimney cap is asking for trouble. Amazingly many homeowners choose to take their chances and go without a cap.

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Here are 5 reasons why chimney caps are not only important but absolutely necessary

1. Keep out rain and moisture

A chimney cap will prevent rain water from entering your chimney and in return reduce the amount of damage from moisture. Rain water can damage chimneys with stainless steel liners, chimney dampers and chimney mortar joints. Beyond the damage from the water itself, moisture from rain water can produce dangerous mold and mildew build up.

2. Prevent external fires

If there’s no cap, they can keep on traveling and land on the roof or nearby trees. The wire mesh sides of chimney caps are open enough to allow smoke to pass through but tight enough to prevent fiery particles from getting out.

3. Keep out animals

Animals like birds, raccoons, squirrels and many others often try to make their nests within chimneys. Upon entering the chimneys, these animals end up trapped and more often then not dying and obstructing the chimney – not to mention unpleasant odors. Animals that do survive can end up in your home causing havoc. A good chimney cap is 100% effective in preventing all this.

4. Block downdrafts

If the wind is blowing in a certain direction, it can introduce a downdraft. If you don’t have a chimney cap and you’re using a wood-burning fireplace at the time, a wind-induced downdraft has the potential of blowing smoke and possible embers back into your home. This is extremely dangerous and can be potentially life threatening.

5. Prevent debris build-up

Leaves, branches, twigs and other debris can enter a chimney and build up if a chimney cap is not in place. This in turn can cause obstructions within chimney that can lead to internal chimney fires as well as drafting problems. Chimney caps will block all debris.