Chimney cap installation in Butler, NJ
One cage over every flue.
A new multi-flue cap fastened to the top of the chimney over the clay flues, with the chimney sweep scheduled next.
FlueRite installs chimney caps in Butler, including multi-flue caps that cover every flue on the chimney under one lid. On this job we installed a new mesh cage over the clay flues at the top of the chimney, fastened along its base, and the chimney sweep is scheduled as the next step.
- Location
- Butler, NJ 07405
- Work done
- New multi-flue chimney cap with mesh cage
- Next step
- Chimney sweep, scheduled
- Permit
- None required for a chimney cap in NJ
- Season
- Fall 2026
Butler’s older chimneys
Butler is one of the older boroughs in this part of Morris County, and many homes on the streets around Main Street date from the early 1900s through the middle of the century. Chimneys from that era often carry more than one flue: one for a fireplace, another for the furnace or boiler, sometimes a third that has not been used in years.
Many were never capped at all, or were capped one flue at a time with small caps that have since rusted or blown off.
One cap per flue, or one cage over all of them
When a chimney has several flues close together, there are two ways to cap it. Individual caps fit on each flue tile. A multi-flue cap, like the one in the photo, is a single cage that sits on the top of the chimney and covers every flue at once, with a solid lid above.
A single cage is usually the better choice when the flues are close together or the tiles stand at uneven heights. It shelters the top of the chimney between the flues as well, which keeps rain and snow off it, and there is one cap to look after instead of several.
What the mesh does
Keeps animals out. Birds, squirrels and raccoons look for open flues in the fall. Mesh on all four sides stops them from nesting inside, one of the most common reasons a flue is found blocked.
Stops debris. Leaves and twigs that fall into an open flue collect at the bottom or on the smoke shelf and restrict the draft.
Catches embers. Mesh keeps sparks from a fireplace from landing on the roof or in nearby trees.
Mesh that is too fine clogs with soot and chokes the draft. The opening size has to balance keeping animals out with letting the chimney breathe.
How a multi-flue cap is fastened
The cage sits on a base angle around the top of the chimney, fastened into the masonry with the fasteners sealed. A cap that is only set on top, or held by a single screw, is the one that ends up in the yard after a winter storm. The base in the photo runs the full length of the chimney top.
Why the sweep comes next
A new cap keeps new debris and animals out, but it does nothing about what is already inside the flue. Chimneys that have gone uncapped often have leaves, nesting material or soot buildup further down. The sweep clears that out and gives a look at the condition of each flue, so the chimney goes into the heating season with a clear, checked path all the way down.
Chimney cap questions from Butler homeowners
What is a multi-flue chimney cap?
A single cap that covers every flue on a chimney at once. It sits on the top of the chimney rather than on any one flue, with mesh on all sides and a solid lid on top.
Can one cap cover a fireplace flue and a furnace flue together?
Often, yes, as long as the flues are arranged so exhaust from one is not drawn down the other. We look at the flue layout and the appliances before recommending a single cage.
Do I need a chimney sweep after installing a cap?
If the chimney was uncapped for a while, yes. The cap keeps new debris out, but anything already inside, such as nesting material or leaves, still needs to be cleared before the chimney is used.
Why did my old chimney cap blow off?
Usually because it was only set on the flue tile or held with one or two screws. Wind lifts a loose cap easily. A properly installed cap is anchored into the masonry around its base.
Will a chimney cap affect how my fireplace draws?
A properly sized cap should not. Problems come from mesh that is too fine and clogs, or a lid set too low over the flue. Both are avoided by choosing the right cap for the chimney.
Do you serve all of Butler?
Yes, all of Butler, along with Kinnelon, Bloomingdale, Pompton Plains and the rest of Morris County.
Chimney still uncapped?
Book an inspection or send us a photo of the top of your chimney. We will tell you whether individual caps or one cage makes more sense, and whether it needs a sweep first.
Animals, debris or rain getting into your chimney?
We fit caps that cover every flue and stay put through winter, and sweep the chimney when it needs it. Butler, Kinnelon, Bloomingdale and the rest of Morris County.
CSIA Certified · NJ HIC #13VH14202300 · Serving Butler & Morris County