Chimney caps and chase covers in San Antonio
A cap is the cheapest part of a chimney and it protects everything below it: it keeps rain off the damper, leaves out of the flue, and animals out of the house. Tell us what is on top of yours, or what is missing, and a local chimney company calls you back.
Caps and chase covers
- Single-flue cap. A metal hood with a mesh screen that clamps onto the top of one flue tile. Stainless steel lasts; galvanized rusts.
- Multi-flue cap. One cap that covers the whole crown of a masonry chimney with more than one flue.
- Chase cover. The flat metal top on a factory-built fireplace's framed chase, with the flue running through it. When it rusts, water gets into the chase. Many in San Antonio's newer subdivisions are original builder covers.
- Top-sealing damper. A damper at the top of the flue, opened with a cable from the firebox, that seals tighter than a rusted throat damper and doubles as a cap.
Animals
Squirrels and raccoons are the usual tenants of an uncapped flue in San Antonio, and birds the most common of all. A cap with an intact screen keeps them out. If an animal is already inside, the job is removal first, then the cap, and a wildlife control company may be the right call.
Birds are the exception. If you hear chattering in the chimney between spring and early fall, it is almost certainly a family of chimney swifts. Chimney swifts are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Texas Parks and Wildlife says it is illegal to disturb swifts or their nests during the breeding season. Cap the chimney after they leave in the fall. Chimney swifts.
What a cap costs
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney cap repair | $100 to $250 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
National published range for cap repair (Fixr), not a San Antonio average and not a quote. A new stainless cap, or a custom chase cover, is priced by size.
Questions San Antonio homeowners ask
Do I need a chimney cap?
For a masonry chimney, it is the cheapest protection there is against rain and animals. Factory-built fireplaces come with a listed cap; replace it with one listed for that unit.
How long does a chimney chase cover last?
Galvanized covers can rust in well under the life of the house. Stainless and aluminum last longer. A cover that has rust stains running down the siding is due.
Can I put a cap on with birds inside?
Not with chimney swifts nesting. Federal law protects them while they nest; wait until they leave in the fall.