Do you need a chimney cover for your fireplace, and does insurance replace one that blows off?
Short answer. Yes, most fireplaces should have a chimney cover, usually called a chimney cap, to keep out rain, animals and debris and to catch sparks. If wind blows a cap off or a falling limb crushes it, homeowners insurance generally pays to replace it; damage from rust, animals or rain entering an uncapped flue usually is not covered.
What a chimney cap does
- Keeps rain out of the flue, which protects the damper and firebox from rust and the masonry from moisture damage.
- Blocks animals. Birds, squirrels and raccoons nest in uncapped flues.
- Stops sparks with a mesh screen, which matters in leaf heavy North Georgia yards.
- Reduces downdrafts on windy days.
Choosing the right cover
Masonry chimneys can use a single flue cap or a multi flue cap that covers the whole crown. Factory built fireplaces with a metal flue need the cap the manufacturer lists for that system, because an unlisted cap can affect draft and safety. Stainless steel outlasts galvanized. Chimneys with a wood framed chase also have a chase cover, a separate metal top that should shed water.
When insurance pays
- Usually covered: a cap torn off by wind, crushed by a falling limb, or dented by hail along with the rest of the roof.
- Usually not covered: a rusted cap, a cap that was never installed, and damage from birds, rodents or other animals, which standard policies typically exclude.
If a storm took the cap, photograph the empty flue and look for the cap in the yard; it helps show it was storm damage. Then add it to your roof claim rather than filing separately. See wind damage roof claims and wear and tear vs storm damage.