Making necessary repairs

As the leaves fall, the nights grow longer, and the cold air comes down from the North, bringing snow, ice, and sleet.   Winter is here and you need to make necessary alterations and changes in your home to withstand whatever nature has in store.  You bring in all items from outside, put in storm windows and store your screens and spring furniture for the season.   In preparation, you inspect your boiler and furnace to make sure they are in good working order as the temperature drops during the cold days of the harsh winter.  You examine your stock of logs to ascertain if you have an adequate supply for the winter.  In addition, you clean your fireplace.  You remove all debris from the metal grate, scrub the inner walls of the fireplace, and make sure the damper opens and closes with no problems.  You check the flue for any obstructions, as you prepare to light the first fire of the season.  As part of the inspection, you look at the top of the chimney to see if you need to do chimney cap repairs.  

Getting ready for the cold

The chimney cap is in need of a repair.  It is not an easy job, but one that needs to be undertaken to insure the proper functioning of your fireplace.  The chimney cap is a vital piece on the chimney.  It is located on the top of the stack, and acts as a protection and barrier to the elements, the weather, and any creatures who wish to do damage to your chimney.   The following are basic guidelines, and should always be supplemented by the approved materials and rules and regulations of your local town.
•    Preventing any leaks.  Your chimney cap repairs are first and foremost an attempt to properly seal your chimney from any water leaks. If there are cracks, breaks, or missing parts of the chimney, you must add mortar to the existing structure to create a fully sealed shaft.  When using your mortar, make sure it is not too dry, and at the same time it is not too soggy and runny. Your goal is to have water run away from the top of the chimney so apply the mortar from the opening of the chimney down towards the sides, creating a slope for the water to run off.
•    Repair any bricks. It may be necessary to add mortar to the joints between the bricks surrounding your chimney cap.  This will enable a better adhesion and a complete structure from fireplace to the top with no holes or cracks.  When applying the mortar makes sure it is tightly packed into the joints. 
•    Repair the cap and screen.  As a final touch, replace the cap and screen which act as the barrier to the entrance of the chimney.  This cap will stop any water from flowing into the flue, as well as stop unnecessary debris and dirt from falling down into the fireplace.   By having an appropriate cap with a screen, you can prevent any animals from crawling into your chimney and obstructing the flow of smoke and ash.  Make sure you follow all the steps outlined by the manufacture when installing the cap. 

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