Chimney Cap Installation for San Rafael Homes

Chimney cap installation in brief

Chimney cap installation means fitting a cap to the top of your flue. We measure the flue opening, choose a cap that fits it and fasten it securely. Most of the caps we fit have metal mesh sides. The mesh keeps birds, squirrels and leaves out and helps stop embers from leaving the chimney. The hood keeps rain from falling straight down the flue. Before fitting, we check the top of the chimney so a cap doesn't go on over damage that needs repair first. Our chimney cap installation service covers cap types and the visit in more detail.

San Rafael's wildfire guidance on chimney screens

The City of San Rafael's wildfire-safety guidance tells property owners to install metal screens over chimneys, even chimneys that are not in use (source: City of San Rafael - Protect your home from wildfire).

The guidance is addressed to property owners. That includes homeowners, landlords and anyone managing a building with a chimney. It also covers chimneys nobody lights. A fireplace you haven't used in years still has an open flue at the top, so the same advice applies to it.

The guidance affects which cap you choose. A plain hood with open sides keeps rain out but leaves the opening unscreened. A cap with metal mesh sides covers the opening with a metal screen. If your chimney already has a cap, check two things: whether the mesh is intact, and whether the cap still sits tight on the flue. If the mesh is torn or rusted through, Chimney Cap Replacement is usually the better job. If the existing cap is sound and only the screening needs work, we can fit a Chimney Animal Screen or a Chimney Spark Arrestor instead.

We also do commercial and property-manager work, including rentals and multi-unit buildings. When the schedule allows, we can cap several chimneys in one visit.

Wood stove rules and the timing of a new cap

In San Rafael, all new wood stoves must be EPA certified, and a non-EPA Phase II certified wood stove must be removed or replaced with an EPA-certified stove during a major remodel affecting more than 50% of the home's floor area when the stove is in a room being remodeled or enlarged (source: City of San Rafael - Wood burning fireplace and stove rules).

This rule applies to two groups of owners:

• Owners who are adding a new wood stove.
• Owners of an older stove that isn't EPA Phase II certified who are planning a major remodel of the room the stove sits in.

If neither describes you, the rule doesn't change anything, and a cap can go on whenever you're ready.

If a stove is about to be removed or replaced, the cap should suit the flue that will serve the new setup. In that case, fit the cap once the stove plan is settled so you don't have to change it later. If the remodel leads you toward a fireplace or insert instead, fireplace installation in San Rafael is a separate job, and a cap can be planned alongside it.

When a cap is the right job, and when another service fits better

A new cap is the right job when the chimney has no cap at all, or only an open-sided hood with no screen. A different service comes first in these cases:

• Animals or a nest already in the flue: Chimney Animal & Nest Removal first, then the cap goes on.
• A cap that is there but rusted, bent or loose: Chimney Cap Replacement.
• A cracked or crumbling crown at the top of a masonry chimney: Chimney Crown Repair, so the cap has something solid to sit on.
• A prefab chimney whose metal chase top is rusting: Chase Cover Replacement.
• Water stains inside or around the fireplace: Chimney Leak Repair, since a cap alone may not stop the leak.
• Not sure a cap is worth it for a chimney you rarely use: our guide on do you need a chimney cap walks through the reasons.

Booking a cap installation

Our 24-hour service runs Sunday–Friday, and we accept emergency calls. For a step-by-step look at the visit itself, read how chimney cap installation works. For other chimney, fireplace and dryer vent work in the area, start from our San Rafael area page.