Capping Unused Chimney

Chimney c caps are a plastic terracotta cap with an bird insect guard that sits in side the cap.

Capping unused chimney.

Unused though they can waste a lot of heat up the chimney. Apply a bead of butyl rubber caulk around three sides of the chimney at. There are a few products you can purchase to block the chimney just above the damper. Even new cast iron dampers allow air loss.

There are so many different options nowadays to cap off an unused chimney. Usually unused chimneys are capped off with a bent sheet metal covering and perhaps a wire strap or weight on the top. Slowly lower the cap onto the flue and push it down as far as it will go. The key to capping the top of the chimney is to install a barrier that will be moisture and tamper resistant and will not be affected by environmental factors such as snow wind and sunlight.

Single flue caps are the easiest to mount since they sit right on top of the flue. One is an inflatable balloon type product that will seal the flue. One old and virtually free method of capping off or sealing a chimney that is generally no longer used is to make a lead cap. The bottom is even easier.

Align the open bottom of the cap with the top of your chimney flue. Put on heavy work gloves and use tin snips to cut a piece of sheet metal to the same measurements as the chimney opening. Spring loaded legs are fitted securely to the base of the cap which allow the cap to be securely fitted to the chimney pot. The rain cannot get in but it is not sealed air tight which does allow any inside moisture to slowly get out.