Copper chase covers
A copper chase top adds a finished look and resists corrosion that weathers to a natural color.
Chimney Parts
Chase Cover Replacement Apollo, PA
A rusted or leaking chase cover in Apollo can be replaced with a custom stainless steel or copper cover with a sloped top, drip edge and sealed collar around the flue. Call (724) 412-9254 to reach a local chimney sweep.
A chase is the boxed enclosure on the outside of a house that hides a factory-built chimney pipe, usually framed in wood and finished with siding or stone veneer. The top of the chase is sealed with a metal chase cover that has an opening for the flue pipe. It is what keeps rain and snow out of the chase.
The cover that comes with most homes is a thin galvanized pan, frequently with no slope at all. Water pools on a flat galvanized top until rust sets in, and then it leaks. Rust stains on the siding are often the first visible sign of a failing cover.
A leaking chase cover lets water soak the framing, insulation and fireplace below. It can rot the wood framing and sheathing, soak insulation, rust the metal fireplace and flue pipe and leave stains on ceilings or walls near the fireplace. The sooner the cover is replaced, the less damage there is to fix.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, an Apollo chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney leak repair.
Dealing with this in Apollo, PA right now? Call (724) 412-9254 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The chase cover replacement process
Here is how a sweep usually handles a chase cover replacement.
Inspect the chase
The chase is inspected from the roof for rust, holes and soft framing. Any rot in the framing is noted.
Measure the chase
The chase top is measured, along with the flue opening and its position. A good fit matters more than anything else.
Pull the cap
The old chase top is removed, along with any rusted fasteners. Any damage underneath can then be seen.
Install the new cover
The new cover is set in place with its skirt over the siding and a hem that kicks water off the edge. It is fastened through the skirt, not through the top.
Finish the top
A sealed storm collar and cap close up the opening at the flue. A final look confirms the cover is secure.
What is included
What chase cover replacement covers
Stainless steel chase covers
Stainless steel is the most common replacement material and can be powder coated to match the house.
Storm collars
Collars and caps are checked and replaced as needed to keep out animals and rain.
Drip edges
The edge of the cover is bent so water drips clear of the chase instead of soaking into it.
Cross break designs
Covers are made with a slope, cross break or raised center so water runs off so rust has less chance to start.
Related service
Chimney Chase Repair Apollo, PA
When a chase cover has leaked for a while, the chase itself often needs repair too. The work may include new framing, new sheathing, siding repairs and drying or replacing insulation. Leaks can come from the roof line as well, so the flashing gets a look.
When you call (724) 412-9254 from Apollo, mention where you have seen water or rust, since it helps locate the leak. Some chase repairs need carpentry, so ask how that work is handled. The new cover should go on a sound chase.
Local help
Chase Cover Replacement Near Me
Around Apollo, flat galvanized chase covers are a common source of leaks and rust stains. From Apollo out to neighboring towns like Vandergrift, Hyde Park, Lower Burrell and Clinton, sweeps regularly find rusted chase tops on homes that are only a decade or two old, so replacing an old cover before it fails saves a lot of repair work.
Need chase cover replacement around Apollo? Call (724) 412-9254 for an Apollo chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Apollo
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Apollo, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Apollo know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chase cover replacement
How long will a new chase cover hold up?
A well made stainless or copper cover often outlasts the galvanized original by many years. Good design keeps water off the cover and the siding. Have it checked during chimney sweeping.
Why are there rust streaks on my chimney siding?
Rust usually comes from a galvanized cover that has started to break down. Flat tops that hold water rust faster. Those streaks are a sign the cover needs replacing.
Should I patch or replace my chase cover?
Patching a rusted chase cover is usually a short term fix. Replacing it with a sloped stainless or copper cover is the more lasting fix. The framing beneath should be checked while the cover is off.
What does a chase cover do?
It is the metal lid on top of a chimney chase, which is the framed box around a prefab chimney. It keeps rain and snow out of the chase, which protects the framing and the fireplace below. A cap sits on top of the flue pipe that comes through the cover.
Why is there water in my prefab fireplace?
A failed chase cover is one of the most common causes of water in a factory-built fireplace. That can rust the firebox, damage refractory panels and soak the area around the fireplace. Replacing the cover and storm collar usually stops it.
More questions? Call (724) 412-9254
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Fitting a metal cap over the top of the flue so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
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