Copper tops
A copper chase top adds a finished look and resists corrosion for homes where looks matter.
Chimney Parts
Chase Cover Replacement Millstadt, IL
The chase cover on a Millstadt home with a factory-built fireplace can be swapped for one that sheds water with a sloped top, drip edge and sealed collar around the flue. One call to (618) 476-0260 reaches a nearby sweep who handles chase covers.
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. A chase cover is the metal lid on top of the chase, with a collar where the flue comes through. Its job is to keep water out of the framing and away from the fireplace below.
The cover that comes with most homes is a thin galvanized pan, frequently with no slope at all. Flat covers hold standing water, and galvanized steel rusts once the coating wears, which leaves brown streaks down the siding and eventually holes in the pan. Rust stains on the siding are often the first visible sign of a failing cover.
Once water gets in, it can travel down the chase and into the fireplace. 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. Catching a bad cover early keeps the repair simple.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chase cover replacement in Millstadt, IL can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair.
Looking for Millstadt chase cover replacement? Call (618) 476-0260 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Millstadt.
Call nowThe process
The chase cover replacement process
Here is how a sweep usually handles a chase cover replacement.
Inspect the chase
The condition of the cover, collar and chase top is checked. Damage below the cover may need repair before the new cover goes on.
Size the cover
The chase top is measured, along with the flue opening and its position. Most replacement covers are made to order.
Remove the old cover
The old chase top is removed, along with any rusted fasteners. Any damage underneath can then be seen.
Set the cover
A sloped stainless or copper cover is fitted and fastened through the side skirt. Fasteners are placed so they do not create new leaks.
Seal the collar
The storm collar is sealed around the flue pipe and the chimney cap is reinstalled or replaced. A final look confirms the cover is secure.
What is included
Chase cover work
Drip edges
The edge of the cover is bent so water drips clear of the chase which protects trim and siding.
Cross break designs
A sloped or cross broken top keeps water from pooling which is the main fix for flat pans.
Storm collars
Collars and caps are checked and replaced as needed to keep out animals and rain.
Stainless covers
Stainless steel is the most common replacement material and do not leave rust streaks.
Related service
Chimney Chase Repair Millstadt, IL
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. Flashing where the chase meets the roof is checked too.
Calling (618) 476-0260 from Millstadt with details about stains or leaks helps the sweep plan the visit. 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
In Millstadt, many newer homes have prefab fireplaces with chimney chases and builder grade chase tops. Homes in Millstadt and nearby towns such as Smithton, Belleville, Columbia and Dupo often have chase covers that were installed when the house was built and never replaced, which is why a chase cover is worth checking when the chimney is swept.
For chase cover replacement in Millstadt, IL or nearby towns like Smithton, Belleville, Columbia and Dupo, call (618) 476-0260 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Millstadt
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, so flues collect creosote fast and liners and crowns see a lot of heat and cold. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Millstadt chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why not wait
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Millstadt know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chase cover replacement
Should I patch or replace my chase cover?
Small holes can sometimes be patched, but patches on a rusting galvanized cover rarely last. A new stainless or copper cover with a slope usually solves the problem for good. Ask the sweep to check the framing under the cover too.
How long will a new chase cover hold up?
A well made stainless or copper cover often outlasts the galvanized original by many years. A sloped design and drip edge help it last by keeping water moving. A yearly look at the chase top is a good habit.
What is a chase cover?
A chase cover is the metal top on a framed chimney chase, the boxed enclosure around a factory-built chimney pipe. Its job is to keep water out of the framing, insulation and fireplace. A cap sits on top of the flue pipe that comes through the cover.
Why is there water in my prefab fireplace?
When a chase top leaks, the water usually ends up in the fireplace below. That can rust the firebox, damage refractory panels and soak the area around the fireplace. Replacing the cover and storm collar usually stops it.
Why are there rust streaks on my chimney siding?
Builder grade chase tops are often galvanized steel, and they rust after years of weather. Flat covers make it worse, since standing water sits on the metal. Those streaks are a sign the cover needs replacing.
More questions? Call (618) 476-0260
Often needed together
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
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesGet chase cover replacement help in Millstadt
Call (618) 476-0260 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Millstadt, IL.
(618) 476-0260
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