Illegally Installed Decorative Shroud Removal
Did you know that “Decorative Shrouds” which are illegally installed on the top of some factory-built chimneys can be a potential hazard to you and your family? Often installed as an afterthought by a homebuilder, a decorative shroud is a sheet metal decoration on top of the chimney intended to increase a home’s curb appeal by hiding the round, plain looking chimney cap that the chimney comes with. Unfortunately, it has been discovered by sad experience that these illegally-installed afterthoughts can be very dangerous!
 Illegally installed decorative shroud. |
 This chase pan cover transferred heat to the… |
chase pan cover, which transferred heat to the combustible wood beneath. This was a close call!
Normally as you burn fires, the hot gases rise up through the chimney and escape safely through the chimney cap into the outer atmosphere. For Safety purposes, the manufacturer’s instructions on how their chimney is to be installed are very specific, and allow little leeway for variance. These instructions also specify the closest allowable distance the cap can be to the chase pan cover.
 Illegally installed decorative shrouds have been the cause of many structural fires. |
 Illegally installed decorative shroud. |
 Fire caused by illegally installed decorative shroud. |
If the cap is installed too close to the chase pan cover, the combustible 2×4’s directly beneath it can overheat and catch fire. The instructions also prohibit any add–on products on the top of the chimney (such as decorative shrouds) for this same purpose. In addition, these covers can also inhibit your chimney’s ability to draft or draw properly, thus inhibiting its performance.
Decorative shrouds are designed to hide the original round chimney cap.
In many cases, fire investigators have discovered that these illegally-installed decorative shrouds kept heat from spilling harmlessly into the atmosphere and created a bridge on which to transfer itself to the wood members of the chase, or even overheat the factory-built chimney pipe itself! The resulting house fires are a warning to all who have an illegal decorative shroud on top of their chimney.
A chimney top with the decorative shroud removed and the round factory supplied cap exposed.
If your chimney has an add-on decorative shroud which was not Tested (UL listed) for use with your chimney, we recommend that you have it removed immediately. Adding accessories which are not original factory parts is not only illegal, but potentially very dangerous!
Your prefabricated chimney needs the proper chimney cap to protect it against critters, debris and water getting in. We can help with any repair you need for your prefabricated chimney system.
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Dear A to Z Chimney
I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great service you have done for me. I am an avid wood burner and love to burn my fires just about every evening. There’s nothing like the simple pleasure of curling up next to a warm and cozy fire during those cold winter nights.
Unfortunately, I had a chimney fire which did extensive damage to my chimney and it had to be re-lined with a new Stainless Steel Liner.
Last year, I hired a different company to come out and sweep my chimney. The sweep from that company tried to use high pressure sales tactics to get me to do the repairs. His poor attitude and high pressure turned me off so badly that I decided not to have them do the work.
This year, I hired your company and Chris Donovan was such a gentleman! He gave me the same bad news, but this time I could see it with my own eyes on the screen as he video scanned my flue. He was also much more knowledgeable and informative and really took the time to help me understand. He did not talk condescendingly, and there was no pressure whatsoever.
Consequently, I did hire your company to come back and complete the needed repairs, and was absolutely delighted!! Not only did Chris come back, but Aaron, the owner came, as well. I was delighted to know that the owner was personally seeing to the work. In the process of repairing my chimney, some other minor problems were detected, and they fixed them at no additional charge!
In addition, when everything was done, they did a spectacular job cleaning up every bit of their mess, and I couldn’t even tell they had been here.
Thanks again for the great service you provide! I will use you again and again, and refer you to my friends.
Sincerely,
~ Beverly Bland, Carmichael, CA
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