A chimney is necessary (for any home that has a fireplace) to lead away smoke and other fireplace emissions. However, that opening into your home can be welcoming to outdoor pests. The addition of a chimney cap can block animals from entering. Some problems a chimney cap prevents include:
1. Disease – Wild animals like raccoons and squirrels often carry diseases (like rabies). Installing a chimney cap can keep animals out of your chimney, and out of your home.
2. Nests – Chimneys make for attractive homes for birds. This can lead to a chimney becoming clogged, causing a buildup of carbon monoxide indoors. A chimney cap keeps flying friends outside while smoke escapes.
3. Dead animals – Animals can become trapped in the flue and die. Foul smells, maggots, and flies may eventually present themselves as a result.
4. Handling wildlife – No homeowner should try to deal with an animal invasion on their own. Experts have the training, tools, and expertise to do this in a safe manner.
5. Animal droppings – Animals living in a chimney flue can also leave droppings in your fireplace, which release foul smells as they burn and can hold bacteria.
Other incidental reasons for installing a chimney cap are:
1. Moisture – Water can enter a chimney, damaging its inner workings and cause cracks that are costly to repair. Water also encourages the growth of mildew and mould within a chimney, which affects breathing and the respiratory health of inhabitants.
2. Debris – A chimney clogged with debris (e.g. leaves and twigs) can cause carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
3. Stray embers – Embers from a fireplace may travel up the chimney to the outdoor area. They may have enough heat left to ignite nearby plants and start a fire. A chimney cap can prevent fire.
4. Drafts – Chimneys can house downdrafts (from wind) and send smoke back into a home, making it difficult to start fires. They can also adversely affect heating bills.
A chimney cap can keep your home safe in several ways. If you need chimney capping services, contact Pro-Pest at (416) 487-4179. We can help you with chimney caps to keep pests out and protect your property and family.
