Chimney Caps Solutions Made From Copper and Stainless Steel

The chimney is important part of your home. The problems is that it is constantly “attacked” by the nature.

Down draft (backflow), moisture, animals, are some of the problems.

That’s why buying a chimney cap and improving your home is a natural solutions.

Choosing the best copper or stainless steel chimney cap is not hard.

Today we are going to show you 8 of these quality models that are easy to install and maintain.

Single Flue

For a simple single flue brick chimney, the best cover is a rectangular hood that will keep away rain, snow, wind and animals, with an added spark arrestor (a must by law in some places). This is the most common and simple type of chimney cover but there is a good reason for it – it works.

Single flue copper chimney cap

An elegant copper chimney cover that is anything but decorative, the Draft King Single Flue cap is an extremely durable square or rectangular hood, made from 100 % copper, with scalloped corners, combined with a mesh and copper-plated stainless steel base. It will keep out leaves, rain, snow and animals that might cause a fire hazard and will prevent wind blowing smoke back down the chimney and into your home.

And the best part – and a good reason to get a copper cowl in the first place – with time it will get a natural patina, making it even more attractive. The cap is really easy to install (just keep in mind it is not designed for metal chimneys) and the hood can be removed for easy cleaning.An elegant copper chimney cover that is anything but decorative, the Draft King Single Flue cap is an extremely durable square or rectangular hood, made from 100 % copper, with scalloped corners, combined with a mesh and copper-plated stainless steel base. It will keep out leaves, rain, snow and animals that might cause a fire hazard and will prevent wind blowing smoke back down the chimney and into your home.

Features:

• 100% copper
• Mesh
• Stainless steel base

Available sizes:

• 9” x 9”
• 9” x 13”
• 9” x 18”
• 12” x 16”
• 13” x 13”
• 13” x 18”
• 18” x 18”

Single Flue stainless steel chimney cap square

Another reason to get this particular cover is it won’t hurt your wallet and if you are worried the lower price means a compromise in standard, rest assured. This chimney top is made in the USA and with a lifetime limited warranty which ought to put your mind at ease about the quality of the product.If you live in an especially windy or rainy area and are worried that any old chimney cap will not be able to handle the rough weather, you need a stainless steel top and the HY-C Shelter Bolt On Single Flue chimney cover is an excellent choice. Tested in high winds, this rectangular masonry flue cover will stop any rain, snow and annoying birds or squirrels from getting inside your chimney.

Features:

• Lifetime warranty
• Easy to install

Available sizes:

• 9” x 9”
• 9” x 13”
• 9” x 18”
• 13” x 13”
• 13” x 18”
• 18” x 18”

Single Flue stainless steel chimney cap round

Really easy to install, the HY-C Round Stainless Steel cap is designed to fit outside a metal chimney and once it is there, you can simply forget about it. This chimney top is perfect for oil, coal and wood burners and is extremely durable – built to withstand anything the world might throw at it… in a manner of speaking. It will certainly keep birds out and once you install it, the only fowl you cook will be the chicken or turkey you put in the oven.

The round liner cap has a 1.5-inch gear drawn clamp band that makes it a breeze to install and guarantees a secure fit to prevent any actual breeze (or high winds for that matter) from creating backflow.

Features:

• Gear draw clamp band

Available sizes:

• 4”
• 5”
• 6”
• 7”
• 8”
• 9”
• 10”
• 11”
• 12”
• 13”
• 14”

Multi-flue

A similar design to the rectangular single flue chimney cover but a bigger and sturdier chimney cap. It is, however, as straightforward to install and once mounted correctly it will remain in place for as long as you need it. Of course, it comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate every possible chimney.

Multi flue copper chimney cap

For a multi-flue chimney, you will need a larger cap that can be attached easily but more importantly, securely. The HY-C BigTop Multi-Flue Chimney Cover comes with masonry screws and a tube of all-weather construction adhesive which will keep it in its place regardless of the weather conditions. Keep in mind that the top itself is rather high and some rain might get into your chimney if it’s also a particularly windy day.

Other than that, it’s a well-made and certainly attractive rectangular copper cover that comes in a variety of sizes, sure to fit your chimney. The copper mesh serves as a spark arrestor that will stop most sparks from escaping while the copper hood will stop any of those pesky critters from getting in.

Features:

• Copper mesh

Available sizes:

• 9” H x 10” x 10”
• 9” H x 10” x 12”
• 9” H x 10” x 14”
• 9” H x 13” x 19”
• 9” H x 14” x 10”
• 9” H x 14” x 12”
• 9” H x 14” x 14”
• 9” H x 14” x 21”
• 9” H x 14” x 26”
• 9” H x 14” x 30”
• 9” H x 14” x 34”
• 9” H x 15” x 37”
• 9” H x 17” x 17”
• 9” H x 17” x 29”
• 9” H x 17” x 35”
• 9” H x 17” x 41”
• 9” H x 17” x 49”
• 9” H x 17” x 53”
• 9” H x 17” x 58”
• 9” H x 17” x 64”

Multi flue stainless steel chimney cap

There is a reason stainless steel chimney tops are the most popular option for anyone looking to make their home safer – extremely durable and easy to attach and maintain, one of these covers will protect against birds and squirrels, rain and snow, leaves and debris getting inside, while making sure no sparks ascend up and leave the chimney, possibly damaging your roof.

If you’ve encountered some or all of these problems and have a multi-flue brick chimney, the rectangular HY-C BigTop Multi-Flue stainless steel cover is an excellent choice that has plenty of size options to choose from. It is especially good for oil or coal burners or for homes primarily heated with wood pellets, though depending on the type of stove you use the warranty might be limited.

Features:

• Top mount design
• Easy to install

Available sizes:

• 10” H x 10” x 10”
• 10” H x 10” x 14”
• 10” H x 13” x 19”
• 10” H x 14” x 14”
• 10” H x 14” x 21”
• 10” H x 14” x 26”
• 10” H x 14” x 30”
• 10” H x 14” x 34”
• 10” H x 15” x 37”
• 10” H x 17” x 17”
• 10” H x 17” x 29”
• 10” H x 17” x 35”
• 10” H x 17” x 41”
• 10” H x 17” x 49”
• 10” H x 17” x 53”
• 10” H x 17” x 58”
• 10” H x 17” x 64”

Wind directional

Wind directional chimney caps have a very specific design and with good reason – they are designed to rotate with the wind and have the optimal shape for splitting the air current, making them one of the most efficient ways to eliminate downdraft. As an added bonus, they will also keep rain and animals out.

Wind directional stainless steel chimney cap

The dreaded downdraft – cold, annoying, fills your home with black smoke every time you open the stove, makes you wonder if it’s all worth it. Rest assured it is, there is a simple solution to the problem and it is called the Wind Directional Stainless Steel round chimney cap – high quality caps, made in the USA and with a lifetime warranty.

Keep in mind this cap slips inside the pipe, so you need to measure the interior dimension before selecting the appropriate size for your chimney. Also, as noted in the name, the round cap is designed only for non-air cooled chimneys, however, this is all you need to take into consideration before getting your cap and forgetting about downdraft once and for all.

Features:

• Downdraft protection
• Mesh

Available sizes: 

• Round 6”
• Round 7”
• Round 8”
• Round 9”
• Round 10”

Metal pipe liner

If your chimney has a metal pipe that needs a cap, you’re in luck – these round chimney caps are not only a cool addition to the look of your roof but also really easy to install. “Slip-on” might sound a bit too flimsy but don’t worry, there are additional ways to secure your chimney top where it belongs.

Copper cap for metal pipe flues

The Weathershield Copper Cap is yet another chimney cover that not only keeps the roof, home and chimney itself in top shape but also looks good doing it. In fact, it is so beautiful, it’s a must for buildings in historic areas… or if you simply want your home to stand out in the neighborhood, looking just a bit more polished and attractive.

And since aesthetics alone does nothing for your chimney, the Weathershield cap has a sturdy stainless steel construction that supports the copper hood and keeps out the weather and whatever animals might be attracted to the warmth, while the removable mesh acts as a spark arrestor. The round slip-on cap is designed for round single-flue chimneys and is super easy to install.

Features:

• Removable spark arrestor (mesh screen)

Available sizes:

• 10”
• 11”
• 5”
• 12”
• 14”
• 5”
• 6”
• 7”
• 8”
• 5”
• 9”
• 5”

Cap for metal chimney pipe (flue pipe liner) stainless steel

A stainless steel dome that will eliminate backdraft, improve ventilation and make sure your stove does not blast smoke back into the room, the Selkirk 8-Inch round top is designed for easy installation – simply clamp it down and secure it by tightening the cinch band. This should be enough to keep it in place even in pretty rough weather. This is a good quality product and at a very reasonable price.

A word of warning though, if you have a big problem with birds getting inside your chimney, this top will be an improvement but might not solve the issue completely. It is possible to get the occasional small animal getting through the side openings, so you might want to add a hardware cloth or some other additional mesh.

Wind blocking

Unlike the wind directional tops, the wind blocking chimney caps do not move with the airflow but instead are designed to increase the wind speed in order to create a partial vacuum. It in turn ensures all the smoke, smells and flue gas are pulled up and out of the chimney.

Wind blocking copper caps

What we all wouldn’t do for a beautiful home (or a vacation home) away from the polluted cities and as close to nature as one wishes to be. Unfortunately, a great view of rolling hills, seaside cliffs or imposing mountains close by often comes with a set of problems, including the most common wind-related downdraft.

The Vacu-Stack copper chimney cap is the best solution – its unique design creates a partial vacuum that literally pulls flue gas up and away from your home. Of course it also has all of the benefits of a regular cover, keeping rain, snow and animals out as well. The Vacu-Stack is designed for round chimneys but can be purchased with an adapter for square or rectangular ones.

Features:

• All site wind block

Available sizes:

• 6”
• 7”
• 8”

Wind blocking stainless steel chimney cap

Many, many satisfied customers praise the stainless steel Vacu-Stack chimney cap for completely eliminating their issues with wind-created downdraft. After installing this round top (which is super easy since it is a slip-on cap that is mounted inside the pipe) fires burn hotter and cleaner, making stoves more efficient and your home completely smoke-free. A sturdy stainless steel construction guarantees longevity, even in high winds, and has been tested in all sorts of environments.

However please keep in mind that this type of chimney cap is designed specifically to eliminate downdraft created by wind and if your problems have a different cause, by installing Vacu-Stack you will probably get an improvement but not a complete solution. Other than that, you should have no issues with it.

Features:

• High wind protection

Available sizes:

• 3”
• 4”
• 5”
• 6”
• 7”
• 8”
• 8” Oval
• 9”
• 10”
• 11”
• 12”
• 12” Oval
• 13”
• 14”
• 15”
• 16”
• 17”
• 18”

Things to keep in mind when buying a new chimney cap (Buyers guide)

You probably know or at least suspect you need a chimney cap, depending on the condition and efficiency of your chimney. And you might think you know exactly what you are looking for. Or on the contrary, this might be the first you even hear there is such a thing as a chimney cover and you might not have a clue where to start or even dread the idea of purchasing something you know nothing about. The truth is there are just a few things to consider in order to get the right product for your home.

Do I need a chimney cap?

If you are wondering if you even need a chimney cap, keep in mind there are a couple of issues most chimneys face. Different animals, most commonly birds and squirrels, often decide to build their nests inside chimneys, since they are attracted to the heat, and this of course is a serious fire hazard. Another issue is that sometimes embers or sparks from your fire might escape the chimney and could set your roof on fire (or another building close by). The best way to prevent this is the so-called “spark arrestor” – also known as a chimney cap or top.

In order to keep your chimney – and therefore your home – in good shape, you have to make sure rain and snow do not erode the bricks or mortar. This again creates a fire hazard and structural risks as well. Wind can also cause some problems, most commonly a downdraft which might fill your home with smoke. There are chimney caps specifically designed to deal with draft and wind issues.

If any of these sound at all familiar, you might want to consider a chimney cap.

What type of cap do I need?

Caps for chimneys come in many different styles and sizes. To determine what style is best for your application you will first need to know what kind of chimney you have.

There are a few common types of chimneys and a number of possible chimney caps for all of them.

Single-flue chimneys with extended flues

Single-flue chimneys with extended flues for example can be square, rectangular, round or oval and their shape is crucial when selecting a cap. For square, rectangular and oval varieties the extended flue is covered with a cap attached with clamps or screws. Please keep in mind for the oval flues you need to make sure the cap you select is designed specifically for the correct shape. For the round kind you can use clamps or screws, or even a slip-in cap that simply slides right in.

Caps for single flue chimneys without extended flue

A single-flue chimney without an extended flue means that the pipe is recessed inside the walls of the chimney and you can’t attach the cap directly to it. Again the shape is of the utmost importance and if your chimney is square, rectangular or oval, you need a cap mounted with legs or brackets. Just keep in mind legs are an easy and appropriate choice for most chimneys but for especially windy places brackets are a more secure option.

For a round flue it’s best to get an even easier to attach cap that slides into the opening. Another option is to get a top-mounted chimney cap which works with all shapes – these are attached directly to the crown and secured with screws or adhesive.

Caps with flexible liners

Another kind of chimney is the single-flue with flexible metal liners, often used when an older masonry chimney is damaged. If you are not sure if yours is a metal liner, it’s easy to tell – these are softer and more flexible than regular vents. However, because of that, these can only be covered with a slip-in cap.

Caps for multi flue chimneys

Another common type of chimney is the multi-flue, which is exactly what it sounds like – more than one flue, depending on the number of burners you use. If your chimney is of the multi-flue variety, your best option is to get a top-mounted cap which covers the crown and it makes no difference if the flues are extended or not.

How to measure for single and multi-flue chimney cap?

Once you decide on chimney flue type, it’s time to pull out the roulette and do some measuring.

For extended single flue chimneys (square or rectangular):

If you have a single clay liner sticking out of your chimney, measure the width and length of top of the clay liner. These dimensions will determine what size cap you’ll needed.

For top mounted multi flue cap it takes five basic measurements:

1. First measure the length of both flues together.
2. Measure the width of both flues together.
3. The next measurement is the width of the entire chimney crown.
4. Measure the length of the entire chimney crown.
5. Measure the height of your tallest flue.

Notes:

For maintaining a proper draft, you need cap that is 8 inches higher than the tallest flue.

Also when measuring for mounting purposes you have two options – just cover the length and width of the flues or cover to the edge of the crown.

For not extended single flue chimneys (square or rectangular):

Legs or Brackets option – If you want to install a chimney cap with legs or brackets you’ll need to measure the outside width and depth of your flue. Then, as when looking for a chimney cap for an extended flue, you can search for a model designed to fit your specifications.

Top-Mounted option – this type is measured the same as multi-flue chimney.

Round Flues on a single flue chimney:

There are two different types of chimney caps suitable for round flues. Each one requires different measurements.

Exterior fasten – Measure the outside diameter of your flue and buy cap size according to these measurements.

Slip into option – Measure the inside diameter of your flue and buy cap size according to these measurements.

Single flue with oval shape:

Outside width and length are the important values here. Search a model that has these sizes.

Single flue with metal pipe liner:

If you have metal pipe liner measure the inner diameter before buying the right model.

Final thoughts

Yes, there are many types of chimney tops, they are very rarely inexpensive and buying one is not exactly a spur of the moment purchase. Or at least it shouldn’t be – getting the right chimney cap means a safer chimney and roof, more efficient heating, which will save you money in the long run, and even a better looking home. And thanks to the list above, it’s easy to get all the benefits without any additional research. But choose carefully, these caps will last you a lifetime.