What is a Chase Cover and Why Is It Important?

If you ask the average person what or where the chase is on their chimney system, they simply don’t know. Simply put, the chase is a box attached to the structure that is designed to accommodate a prefab fireplace in your home. As you can see, there may be multiple flues that need protection. Without proper covering, you will have water, debris and small animals entering your home through the opening from the flues down the chase. This can easily turn into a problem in your walls and attic areas if not dealt with properly. If water is allowed to flow into the house, other potential damage could arise throughout your house leading to structural issues that could be dangerous as well as costly.

Tech repairing flashing at bottom of chimney
In older homes, there is no such thing as a chase. Each fireplace or wood stove had a separate chimney to vent smoke and CO2 from the home. The chase is a product of modern building design with newer ways of heating, cooling and venting a home. It can be made from all types of building materials: wood, stucco, brick, stone or metal. And while the chase might look like a chimney and even has a function similar to a chimney, there are issues that need to be tended too that are unique to it alone.

Chases usually have chase covers.  Usually made of galvanized steel or stainless steel, chase covers are coverings designed to keep the rain, snow, animals, and other debris from entering your house through your chimney. Over time, especially without proper drainage, the chase cover can rust and deteriorate.  Sometimes, the deterioration can cause small holes or other problems, which may cause leaks in the chimney system. In a thorough chimney inspection, a chimney professional can tell you if your chase cover needs to be replaced.

Rusted chimney chase before repair with house and woods in background

Before chase cover repair

Brand new stainless steel chase cover after replacement with trees in background
Another view of new chase cover with woods in backbackground

After chase cover repair

The Cost Of A Cover vs. The Cost Of Leaving The Chase Unprotected

Since dimensions of the cover and the number of flues vented through it vary from house to house, chase covers are usually custom made.  We install stainless steel chase covers, which last much longer than the galvanized ones. The cost of replacing your old chase cover with a new stainless steel chase cover that has a lifetime warranty is far less over time than leaving the chase open to the elements and animals. In addition to replacing your chase cover, you should consider installing (or replacing if needed) a chimney cap.

As our population spreads into native areas, birds and small animals are competing for places to nest. One of their favorites happen to be in attics;  an opened or damaged chase cover is the perfect entry into that part of your home. Placing a cap that has screens around it over the vent is the perfect way to prevent this from happening. The best cap is a stainless steel cap. Contact us today!