How to Install a Rain Cap on a Chimney
Not only do chimney rain caps keep rain from running down the inside of a chimney, they also prevent small animals, such as bats, raccoons and squirrels, from getting in through the chimney opening. Several different types of chimney caps are available, including some that mount on the outside of the chimney and some that mount on the inside. While different chimney caps have different installation techniques and each cap comes with its own instructions, most caps can be installed using the same general method. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Place the rain cap on the top of the chimney. If the rain cap is a standard external-mount cap, the rain cap should fit snugly over the top of the chimney. An internal-mount cap should fit snugly inside the chimney.
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Tighten the screws on an external-mount chimney cap. Generally, the screws come preinstalled around the edges of the cap. Twist the screws clockwise to tighten them.
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Use the sealer provided with the chimney cap to seal the edges where it meets the chimney. Adhesive generally comes with internal-mount rain caps. To seal the edges, apply the sealer to the space between the cap and the top of the chimney by squeezing a bead of adhesive into the space all the way around the chimney.
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Tips & Warnings
Fireplace Mall suggests wearing heavy gloves when handling a chimney cap due to the cap's sharp metal edges.
Do not use the rain cap sealer on a metal chimney. According to Fireplace Mall, metal chimneys become so hot they can melt the sealant.
