Chimney Pro Cleaners · Pickens and Anderson counties
Chimney Cap Installation
Easley SC
Chimney Pro Cleaners installs screened chimney caps for Easley SC homes to keep birds, squirrels and raccoons out of the flue and rain out of the firebox. Call 864-727-7460 with the address and what you have heard or seen in the chimney, and we will discuss the cap and what has to happen first.
Call 864-727-7460Free Phone Consultation with a Certified Technician
Tell Us What Is Happening in Your Easley Chimney
Scratching, chirping, droppings on the damper, nesting material on the grate or a bad smell all point toward an animal problem. Water in the firebox points toward rain entry. Some homes have both.
Let us know if the noise is still going on. That changes the order of the work.
864-727-7460 ↗Animals first
Chimney Cap Installation for Easley Homes With Animals in the Flue
A screened chimney cap is the standard way to stop animals entering a flue. The Chimney Safety Institute of America lists keeping birds and animals out among the main reasons for a cap (Chimney Safety Institute of America chimney cap guidance). The cap only helps if nothing is still inside when it goes on.
If you hear activity now, the animal has to be removed or leave before the chimney is capped. SCDNR's nuisance wildlife page says control of wildlife and animal damage in South Carolina is the responsibility of the individual property owner, and it links a list of wildlife control operators (SCDNR Problem (Nuisance) Wildlife). Depending on the animal, you may need one of those operators before we install the cap.
Once the flue is clear, we fit the cap and check that the screen meets the sides of the hood with no gaps at the corners.
Screen size
Which Chimney Cap Mesh Works Best in Easley?
Mesh size is a balance. The 2021 International Residential Code limits spark arrestor openings to a maximum of 1/2 inch and a minimum of 3/8 inch (2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 10 (R1003.9.1 caps, R1003.9.2 spark arrestors)). Larger openings let small animals and embers through; smaller openings clog with soot and debris and restrict draft.
The screen also has to come off or open for cleaning, which the code requires. A cap with a hinged or removable lid lets a sweep reach the flue without unbolting the whole unit.
Heavy-gauge stainless mesh holds up better against animals that chew or pull at it than thin galvanized screen. We will tell you which construction the proposed cap uses.
Two counties
Who Answers Easley Building Questions About Chimney Caps?
Census records place Easley in both Pickens County and Anderson County, so the right office depends on the parcel.
Inside city limits, the City of Easley Building Department at City Hall, 205 North First Street, handles plan review, building permits and inspections, and its page invites code questions to the building official at (864) 855-7908 (City of Easley Building Department). Unincorporated parcels in Pickens County go to Pickens County Building Codes at (864) 898-5950, and those in Anderson County go to Anderson County Building & Codes.
Whichever of the three covers your lot, ask it directly about approval for your property, particularly once the job grows into crown or chase repair.
Fit
How Is an Easley Chimney Cap Matched to the Chimney?
Brick chimneys usually take a cap clamped to the clay flue tile or a larger cap over the whole crown. Factory-built fireplaces in sided chases use a termination cap on the flue pipe plus a chase cover across the top of the framing. Gas appliance vents need their own listed caps and never get a homemade screen.
Some Easley chimneys mix these, such as a brick chimney carrying both a fireplace flue and a gas furnace vent. Each opening still gets the cap made for what it serves, so we look at every flue on the chimney top rather than quoting a single cap for the whole thing. Our main chimney cap installation guide page compares those cap types in more detail.
After the cap
Keeping an Easley Chimney Cap Working After Installation
A cap needs an occasional look, mostly from the ground. Check it after strong storms and before the first fire of the season. Signs to watch for include a hood that has shifted, mesh pushed in or pulled out at one side, and soot buildup visible on the screen.
Soot and creosote can coat mesh on a wood-burning flue and slow the draft. A sweep cleans the screen during a chimney cleaning, which is one reason removable or hinged caps make sense. Do not climb onto the roof to brush it off yourself.
If animals keep testing the cap, look for what is drawing them. SCDNR's prevention tips include keeping bird feeders and garbage cans inside at night to discourage raccoons.
Cost
What Changes the Price of an Easley Chimney Cap?
Cap size, mesh gauge, stainless or copper, single or multi-flue, and any crown or chase cover repair all affect the cost. Wildlife removal, if needed, is separate and handled by the operator you choose. We measure before pricing, and our South Carolina chimney services hub lists the related chimney repairs we handle in South Carolina.
Caps, covers and access
Chimney Cap Installation Easley SC FAQs
Discuss your chimney top before scheduling.
Call 864-727-7460 ↗
Can you cap my Easley chimney while birds are nesting in it?
We do not cap a flue with birds or animals inside. Wait until the flue is clear, or contact a wildlife control operator if you are unsure. If you are unsure what is nesting, ask the wildlife operator before anything is removed.
Which county handles my Easley address?
Easley spans Pickens County and Anderson County. Inside city limits, the City of Easley Building Department is the contact; outside them, it is the county your parcel sits in. Your property tax bill shows the county.
Why did squirrels get past my existing cap?
A corroded screen, a gap at a corner or a cap that has loosened from the tile can all let squirrels in. Mesh larger than code allows also makes it easier. A new cap in heavy stainless mesh, fastened tightly, closes those gaps.
Is a hinged-lid cap worth it?
It makes future sweeping easier because the lid opens without removing the cap. Code requires the screen or cap to be removable for cleaning either way. The hinge adds cost, so we will discuss whether it suits your chimney.
Do chimney caps need cleaning?
Mesh on a wood-burning flue can collect soot and creosote over time. A sweep cleans or checks the screen during a regular chimney cleaning. A heavily coated screen can restrict draft, so smoke spilling into the room is a reason to call.
How soon after wildlife removal should the cap go on?
As soon as the flue is confirmed clear, so nothing moves back in. Call 864-727-7460 when the removal is scheduled and we can plan the cap visit around it.
Part of our South Carolina service network
Chimney Cap Help Near Easley
Nearby, see chimney cap installation in Powdersville SC, Berea chimney cap installation, chimney cap installation in Pickens SC, chimney cap installation in Piedmont SC and chimney caps in Greenville.
For a property elsewhere in South Carolina, start with our South Carolina chimney repair hub, or read the company's general chimney cap installation guide. Those company guides may show a Georgia number; use 864-727-7460 for your Easley inquiry. This page does not represent a staffed Easley office.
References: Chimney Safety Institute of America chimney cap guidance · 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 10 (R1003.9.1 caps, R1003.9.2 spark arrestors) · SCDNR Problem (Nuisance) Wildlife · Census Bureau 2020 place codes, South Carolina · Anderson County Building & Codes · City of Easley Building Department · Pickens County Building Codes
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