What to Do About a Rusty Chimney Top

Keep an Eye on Your Chase Top or Chimney Cap

It’s a good idea to do a periodic visual inspection of the top of your chimney, if you can do so safely. It’s also a good idea to have one of our experienced chimney technicians perform a thorough chimney inspection once a year.

This way, you’ll know about early signs of rusting or other chimney damage and be able to have it repaired before it becomes expensive and dangerous.

Rust on a Chimney Is Only the Initial Problem

Chimney chase tops and chimney caps are designed to protect the interior flue area from incoming water and debris. A little rust won’t compromise their ability to do their job. Ongoing rust will.

When a chase top or chimney cap becomes eaten through with rust, water will move into the system and cause problems ranging from minor to dangerous.

Water intrusion inside a chimney can lead to:

• Harmful mold growth within the chimney system
• Major damage to interior chimney masonry and the chase housing on pre-built chimneys
• Deterioration of the chimney liner
• Deadly combustion gases, like carbon monoxide, leaking into the house through cracks in the liner
• Rotting of nearby home building materials
• Rust on the fireplace damper, rendering it inoperable
• Offensive odors from interior chimney moisture