Chase Cover Installation

Many homeowners love factory-built fireplace, stove and chimney systems because they’re affordable, efficient, safe, and can be installed in a variety of places in your home. On the down side, although factory-built chimneys are highly functional, they tend to be very basic, visually, looking essentially like a pipe venting through your roof.

An exterior chase is commonly installed with factory-built chimneys, to surround the chimney and offer a more appealing, finished look. Chases are sometimes covered with a siding material to match the home, or with a facade designed to match the look of a traditional masonry chimney.These are capped with a chase cover, which, functionally, acts a lot like the chimney crown on a masonry chimney. The chase cover is designed to protect the chase, the chimney system, and your home, from the effects of the elements — specifically, water.

As with a masonry chimney system, water is a huge enemy to a factory-built chimney system. It can corrode and rust parts, damage the interior of your home and generally contribute to chimney system decay and degradation. A chase cover is one of the barriers built into the system to direct water away, and keep these things from happening.

Technicians installing a chase cover to the top of a masonry chimney one tech is on the ladder
A close up image of a chase cover with 2 holes for 2 different flues made of stainless steel

How Will I Know If My Chase Cover Is In Need Of Replacement?

Chase covers are generally built from galvanized metal, stainless steel, or copper, but more often than not, we see factory-built chimney systems with chases that are built using a galvanized metal cover. The reason that galvanized metal covers are so prominent is that they tend to be the most affordable option. Unfortunately, galvanized metal covers are also prone to rust and corrosion, and typically need to be replaced in as little as five to fifteen years.

If you see rust streaks down the sides of your chase cover and chase, you can assume that your chase cover is nearing the end of its service life. Rust is an indication that water is wearing away at the material, and that soon enough, corrosion will start breaking the metal down, allowing water to enter your system. If you see rust streaks, call Coopertown Services — we can evaluate the state of your chase cover and recommend some options for repairing it.

Image of a very rusty prefabricated chimney system

Different Chase Cover Materials

  • Stainless steel covers can be a great choice for many homeowners, since stainless steel is a highly durable material that won’t succumb to rust and corrosion the way galvanized metal will. Stainless steel is also approved for use with all fuel types.
  • Copper chase covers are also incredibly durable additions to a home, and as bright patina hues develop through the years, they can really add to the home’s beauty as well.

Coopertown Services Can Also Build A New Exterior Chase For You!

Coopertown Services can handle any chase work that you might need, from replacing chase covers to building a brand new exterior chase. If your factory-built chimney doesn’t have a chase, we’d love to build one for you that thoroughly protects your home and adds to its curb appeal. Give us a call and tell us what looks you love! Call us at 901-358-7777 or click here to schedule an appointment!

 

A flue liner can help protect against chimney fires and even carbon monoxide poisoning, so ask our experienced technicians about this chimney repair service today.