Skirt hems
Drip edges stop water from running down the siding which protects trim and siding.
Chimney Parts
Chase Cover Replacement New Hope, PA
The chase cover on a New Hope home with a factory-built fireplace can be swapped for one that sheds water sized to the chase and shaped to shed water off the edges. Dial (267) 714-1009 to talk with a local chimney pro about your chase.
If your chimney is covered in siding instead of brick, it is probably a chase built around a metal flue. The chase cover, sometimes called a chase top or chase pan, is the metal sheet that caps the top of that enclosure. Everything inside the chase depends on that cover staying watertight.
The cover that comes with most homes is a thin galvanized pan, frequently with no slope at all. Water pools on a flat galvanized top until rust sets in, and then it leaks. Rust running down the chase is usually the first clue.
Once water gets in, it can travel down the chase and into the fireplace. Over time it leads to rot in the framing, rust on the fireplace and mold in damp areas. Catching a bad cover early keeps the repair simple.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chase cover replacement in New Hope, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair.
Need chase cover replacement in New Hope? Call (267) 714-1009 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in New Hope.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a chase cover replacement
Replacing a chase cover is mostly about getting the fit right.
Look for damage
The condition of the cover, collar and chase top is checked. Soft wood under the cover is a sign of a longer leak.
Take measurements
Exact measurements are taken so the new cover fits snugly. A good fit matters more than anything else.
Take off the old top
The cap comes off first, then the old cover is unscrewed and lifted away. Any damage underneath can then be seen.
Set the cover
The new cover goes on with a slope or cross break so water runs off, and a drip edge that sheds water away from the siding. It is fastened through the skirt, not through the top.
Seal the collar
The cap is reinstalled and the collar sealed with high temperature sealant. The finished top is checked for gaps.
What is included
What chase cover replacement covers
Stainless steel chase covers
Stainless steel covers resist rust far better than galvanized steel and do not leave rust streaks.
Storm collars
A new storm collar and cap finish the top for a complete watertight top.
Cross break designs
Covers are made with a slope, cross break or raised center so water runs off which is the main fix for flat pans.
Copper chase covers
Copper covers last a long time and develop a patina over time that pairs well with copper flashing.
Related service
Chimney Chase Repair New Hope, PA
When a chase cover has leaked for a while, the chase itself often needs repair too. The work may include new framing, new sheathing, siding repairs and drying or replacing insulation. The framed chase also needs proper flashing where it meets the roof.
If you are in New Hope, tell the sweep about any water stains, soft siding or rust inside the fireplace when you call (267) 714-1009. Bigger framing repairs may involve a carpenter, while the cover and cap are handled by the sweep. Fixing the cover without fixing rot underneath only delays the problem.
Local help
Chase Cover Replacement Near Me
In New Hope, many newer homes have prefab fireplaces with chimney chases and builder grade chase tops. Homes in New Hope and nearby towns such as Newtown Grant, Newtown, Doylestown and Richboro often have chase covers that were installed when the house was built and never replaced, which is why a chase cover is worth checking when the chimney is swept.
Searching for chase cover replacement near me from New Hope or Newtown Grant, Newtown, Doylestown and Richboro? Call (267) 714-1009 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around New Hope
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in New Hope, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in New Hope know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chase Cover Replacement questions
How long will a new chase cover hold up?
Quality covers in stainless or copper hold up for a long time. Good design keeps water off the cover and the siding. Inspections every year catch problems early.
What does a chase cover do?
A chase cover is the metal top on a framed chimney chase, the boxed enclosure around a factory-built chimney pipe. Its job is to keep water out of the framing, insulation and fireplace. A cap sits on top of the flue pipe that comes through the cover.
Can a leaking chase cover be repaired?
Small holes can sometimes be patched, but patches on a rusting galvanized cover rarely last. Replacing it with a sloped stainless or copper cover is the more lasting fix. Any rot underneath should be repaired at the same time.
Can water from a chase cover damage my fireplace?
Water from a leaking chase cover often runs down the flue pipe or framing and into the fireplace. That can rust the firebox, damage refractory panels and soak the area around the fireplace. Replacing the cover and storm collar usually stops it.
Why are there rust streaks on my chimney siding?
Builder grade chase tops are often galvanized steel, and they rust after years of weather. Flat covers make it worse, since standing water sits on the metal. The rust then runs down the siding as brown streaks.
More questions? Call (267) 714-1009
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney sized to the flue tile or the whole crown.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a New Hope chimney sweep about chase cover replacement
Call (267) 714-1009 to talk to a chimney sweep serving New Hope, PA.
(267) 714-1009
Free to call. No forms to fill out.