A chimney cap is the cheapest protection your chimney will ever get. It keeps rain and snow out of the flue, keeps raccoons, squirrels and chimney swifts from nesting, and its spark arrestor keeps embers off the roof. About a third of the Overland Park chimneys we inspect have no cap or a rusted-through one.
Bison installs stainless steel single-flue and multi-flue caps, fabricates custom stainless chase covers for factory-built chimneys, and repairs or replaces throat dampers and top-sealing dampers that leave your living room drafty all winter.
What's included in our chimney caps, chase covers & dampers
- Stainless steel chimney caps with mesh spark arrestor, sized to your flue
- Multi-flue and custom caps for wide or unusual chimneys
- Custom-fabricated stainless chase covers with a cross-break and drip edge
- Top-sealing damper installation (Lyemance, Lock-Top style)
- Throat damper repair and replacement
- Humane animal exclusion and nest removal before capping
Chase covers: the rusted-out roof of your prefab chimney
If your chimney is wrapped in siding instead of brick, it is a factory-built chimney with a metal chase cover on top. Builders installed galvanized covers that rust through in 10 to 15 years, and the rust streaks down the siding are the first sign. Water then drips onto the firebox and the framing. We measure and fabricate a stainless replacement with a proper cross-break so water sheds off instead of pooling.
Dampers and the cold-draft problem
Traditional throat dampers are metal plates that warp, rust and never seal fully, which is why you feel a draft in front of the fireplace in January. A top-sealing damper mounts at the top of the flue with a rubber gasket, closes airtight, doubles as a cap, and is opened with a cable at the fireplace. It is one of the best energy upgrades for a home with a masonry fireplace.
Signs you need a cap, cover or damper
- Rust stains running down the chimney chase or siding
- Water in the firebox after rain
- Scratching or chirping sounds from the chimney
- Leaves, twigs or animal droppings on the smoke shelf
- A cold draft from the fireplace in winter
- The damper is stuck open, stuck closed, or missing
Noticing any of these? Call (913) 555-0100 and we will get you scheduled.
Chimney Caps, Chase Covers & Dampers: frequently asked questions
What kind of chimney cap is best?
Stainless steel. Galvanized caps rust in a few Kansas winters. Copper is beautiful but costs several times more. All our caps have a mesh spark arrestor and a lifetime warranty against rust-through.
There is an animal in my chimney. What do I do?
Do not light a fire. Close the damper and call us. We remove nests, exclude animals humanely, sweep the flue and install a cap so it does not happen again.
How long does chimney cap installation take?
A standard cap takes about 30 minutes and is often done during a sweep. Custom chase covers are measured on the first visit and installed once fabricated, usually within a week.
Where we offer chimney caps, chase covers & dampers
Based in Overland Park, serving all of Johnson County and the Kansas City metro with no trip fees.
