Transform Your Long Island Home’s Safety and Efficiency with Professional Chimney Cap and Damper Upgrades
Long Island homeowners face unique challenges when it comes to protecting their chimneys from the elements and unwanted wildlife. Bats, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals often mistake your chimney for a big, hollow tree where they can safely raise their young. They also prevent animals like birds, squirrels, and raccoons from nesting in your chimney, which can block airflow and create a fire hazard. The solution lies in upgrading two critical components: chimney caps and dampers.
The Hidden Costs of Unprotected Chimneys
A masonry fireplace with traditional metal throat dampers are responsible for on average 8% of the total heating cost. The draft metal tarot dampers do not provide a tight seal allowing cold air to be drawn into the home when the fireplace is not being used. Beyond energy loss, unprotected chimneys invite costly problems that can escalate quickly in Suffolk County’s harsh weather conditions.
Its warmth and security make it an appealing nesting spot for animals like raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds, especially in the cooler months. Their presence poses major health and safety risks. If you’re dealing with this issue, professional animal removal from chimney services can help prevent damage and keep your home safe.
Understanding Chimney Caps: Your First Line of Defense
Chimney caps serve as a critical protector for your chimney, acting as a shield against rain, snow, animals, and debris. Our inventory includes premium caps from reputable brands like Bernard Dalsin Mfg., HY-C, and Gelco, ensuring that regardless of your chimney’s size or the number of flues, we have a cap that will offer optimal protection.
One of the most effective deterrents to wildlife intrusions is a chimney cap. A chimney cap is a protective cover placed on top of the chimney. It prevents animals from entering while allowing smoke and gases to escape. The benefits extend beyond animal protection to include debris prevention and improved chimney efficiency.
Quality materials matter significantly in Long Island’s coastal environment. Stainless steel and copper are superior choices due to their durability and resistance to corrosion and rust, offering long-term protection against leaks and structural damage. While stainless steel maintains its appearance over time, copper develops a unique patina, allowing you to choose based on aesthetic preference without compromising on functionality.
Damper Upgrades: The Energy-Saving Solution
Traditional throat dampers, located at the bottom of your chimney, often fail to provide adequate sealing. In addition to traditional chimney caps, we offer innovations like Lock-Top and Lyemance dampers that act as top-mounted damper caps. These devices not only seal your chimney from water and external air when not in use but also improve energy efficiency by preventing indoor air loss.
These dampers ensure a tight seal from a rubber silicone gasket to help reduce energy loss by 90%. This Lock-Top damper seals tight to keep heat in house when the fireplace is not burning. The Lock-Top design seals with a silicone rubber gasket. Protects your home against heat/air-conditioning loss up the chimney, and prevents downdrafts, rain leaks, and insects.
The Animal Intrusion Problem in Long Island
Long Island’s suburban environment creates perfect conditions for wildlife encounters. Chimney Genie is a trusted North American chimney company in Long Island that offers a wide range of services, including roof leak repair, chimney leak repair, chimney liner installation, chimney inspection, blockage removal, and other chimney lane problems. Bats, squirrels, raccoons, and other wild animals often mistake your chimney for a big, hollow tree where they can safely raise their young.
The consequences of animal intrusion extend beyond mere inconvenience. Once an animal invades your chimney, they can leave debris and droppings behind, which decompose and stink up your house. They also bring with them flammable materials such as twigs and debris, which can lead to flue fires and obstruction. Finally, animals in the chimney can suffocate and die. Even if they do make it out alive, they often damage the flue liner with their claws and teeth.
Professional Installation Makes the Difference
For Long Island homeowners seeking reliable Chimney Services Long Island, professional installation ensures optimal performance and longevity. We’ve been a Long Island-based, family-owned and operated roofing, chimney, siding, gutter and home contracting company for over 22 years now because we only adhere to the highest standards for quality – without ever compromising on the materials or the services we provide. As a fully-licensed, bonded roofer and insured home contracting company in Nassau and Suffolk County, NY, Expressway Roofing & Chimney is more than capable of taking care of all of your roofing, siding, chimney, decking and other home improvement needs. We assure you that we will take care of all your needs without you having to worry about a thing!
Proper sizing and installation are crucial for effectiveness. The Energy Top+ has the tightest seal in the industry – uniquely using a refrigerator type gasket. The Energy Top+ features a stainless steel spark arrestor chimney cap. This level of precision requires experienced professionals who understand both the technical requirements and local wildlife patterns.
Long-Term Benefits and Cost Savings
The investment in quality chimney caps and damper upgrades pays dividends through multiple channels. Up to 8% of home heating costs can exit through a fireplace chimney with an open or damaged damper. A tight fitting, gasketed chimney cap damper will help stop heat loss. It’s like replacing old leaky storm windows with a tight-sealing energy-efficient window. You’ll save money and stay warmer!
Beyond energy savings, these upgrades protect against costly repairs. Chimney caps and dampers are often overlooked until a problem arises, but they play a crucial role in preventing costly damage. Chimney caps and dampers are often overlooked until a problem arises, but they play a crucial role in preventing costly damage. A damaged or missing cap allows water and debris to enter, while a faulty damper can cause energy loss and improper ventilation.
Choosing the Right Solution for Your Home
Every Long Island home presents unique challenges based on its age, chimney design, and exposure to elements. Expressway Roofing & Chimney, Inc of Manorville, Long Island, NY provides professional, quality construction services to our fellow homeowners on Long Island. We are family-owned and operated and come with decades of combined experience in all aspects of exterior home improvements. At Expressway Roofing & Chimney, we serve all of Long Island with guaranteed fair and low pricing (for our high level of quality work).
Professional assessment ensures you receive the most appropriate solution. If you’ve found yourself in this scenario, it’s likely you’re either missing a chimney cap or that your current cap is damaged. Schedule an inspection today, so we can check things out. A quality stainless steel chimney cap can prevent animals from entering in the first place, and we’d be happy to get yours installed soon.
Take Action Today
Don’t wait for problems to develop. Contact us immediately if you notice smoke entering your home when using the fireplace, white staining on the outside of your chimney, or a strong odor coming from the fireplace when not in use. Other warning signs include rust on the damper or firebox, damaged chimney crown or cap, and animals or birds in the chimney. If you see efflorescence (white chalky deposits) on your chimney exterior, this indicates moisture problems that need prompt attention. Don’t ignore these signs—they often indicate safety hazards that can worsen quickly in Suffolk County’s harsh weather.
Investing in professional chimney cap and damper upgrades protects your Long Island home from animal intrusion, reduces energy costs, and prevents expensive repairs. With proper installation by experienced professionals, these upgrades provide years of reliable protection and peace of mind for your family.
