What does a chase cover do?
The chase cover is the roof of the chimney chase. It sheds rain and snow off the top, seals around the flue pipe, and keeps birds, animals and debris out.
Chimneys · Long Island
Chimney chase cover replacement.
Chimney chase cover replacement for homes in Nassau and Suffolk County. When the metal top of a sided chimney rusts through, water goes straight into the chase.
Not every chimney is brick. Many Long Island homes have a chimney chase: a wood-framed box, finished with siding, that encloses a metal flue pipe. The top of that box is closed off with a metal chimney chase cover. Home Crew Construction replaces chase covers across Nassau County and Suffolk County, custom-sized to fit your chimney.
Quick answer: What is a chimney chase cover?
A chimney chase cover is the metal panel that closes off the top of a framed, sided chimney, usually over a factory-built fireplace. It sheds rain and keeps animals and debris out. When it rusts or sags, water pools and leaks inside. Home Crew Construction replaces chimney chase covers across Long Island with custom-fit covers.
What happens when water gets into a chimney chase?
A brick chimney can take some water and dry out. A chimney chase can’t. It is framed with wood and sheathing, just like a wall, so water that gets past a failing cover soaks into the framing and stays there. Over time that means:
- Rotting framing and sheathing at the top of the chase.
- Mold and musty smells in the chase and the room below.
- Rust inside a factory-built fireplace and on the flue pipe.
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the fireplace.
Catching a rusty cover early usually means a straight swap. Waiting can mean opening up the chase to replace rotted wood as well. Because we also do siding, we can repair damaged siding on the chase in the same job.
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Signs your chimney chase cover needs replacement
- Rust streaks running down the siding from the top of the chimney.
- A cover that sags or dips in the middle, so water pools on it.
- Holes, rust-through or corrosion on the cover.
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the fireplace.
- Rust or water inside the firebox of a factory-built fireplace.
- Soft or rotting wood at the top of the chase.
Why do chase covers rust?
Many builder-installed chase covers are thin galvanized steel, and many are flat, so water sits on them. Once the coating wears off, they rust from the top down, faster in salt air near the shore. A replacement in stainless steel or copper, shaped with a slope or cross-break so water runs off, lasts far longer.
You can check yours from the ground. Look for orange or brown streaks on the siding below the top of the chimney, a cover that looks dished in the middle, or a flue pipe that is rusty where it comes through the cover. Any of those is worth a closer look before the next winter.
Our chase cover replacement process
- InspectionWe check the old cover, the flue pipe and storm collar, and the framing under the cover for rot.
- Custom measurementChase covers aren’t one-size-fits-all. We measure your chase so the new cover fits snugly, with a skirt that laps over the siding.
- Removal and installationWe take off the old cover, repair any damaged framing we find (after checking with you), and fasten the new cover down.
- SealingWe seal around the flue and the edges, fit a storm collar and cap on the flue pipe, and make sure water runs off, not in.
- Clean-upThe old cover and all debris leave with us.
If the leak is where the chase meets the roof rather than at the top, we check the chimney flashing and the roof around it as well.
Need help with chimney chase covers?
Free quotes, a reply within 24 hours, and we answer the phone 24/7.
5.0 on Google
Chase cover, crown or cap?
A brick chimney has a concrete chimney crown on top and a chimney cap over the flue. A framed, sided chimney has a chase cover instead of a crown, usually with a small cap over the flue pipe. Not sure which you have? Call and describe it, and we’ll tell you.
Rust streaks or leaks around a sided chimney? Call 631-965-0881 or request a free quote. We reply within 24 hours.
Chimney chase covers FAQ
Common questions.
Still not sure?
Call 631-965-0881 any time. We'll tell you straight whether it's a repair or a replacement.
01How do I know if I have a chase cover or a chimney crown?
If the chimney is covered in siding, you have a chimney chase with a metal chase cover. If it is brick or stone, you have a masonry chimney with a crown.
02Can a rusted chase cover be painted instead of replaced?
Paint can slow surface rust on a cover that is still solid. It won’t fix a cover that is rusted through, sagging or holding water. Those need to be replaced.
03Why is there rust running down my siding?
It is almost always coming from a rusting chase cover at the top of the chimney. Replace it before water gets into the framing.
04What is the best material for a chase cover?
Stainless steel and copper resist rust far better than galvanized steel. We go over the options for your chimney when we quote.
More chimneys services
You might also need.
- Chimney capsChimney cap installation and replacement for homes in Nassau and Suffolk County. A small part that keeps rain, animals and debris out of your chimney.
- Chimney flashingChimney flashing repair and installation for homes in Nassau and Suffolk County. If water is coming in near your chimney, the flashing is the first place we look.
- Chimney crownsChimney crown repair and replacement for homes in Nassau and Suffolk County. The crown is the chimney’s roof. When it cracks, water goes straight in.
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Questions about chimney chase covers? Let's talk.
Free, no-obligation quotes. We reply within 24 hours, and we answer the phone 24/7.
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