Most masonry chimneys are pretty simple. They consist of the chimney itself (made from brick), the crown of the chimney (made from cement), and a flue — the clay tile that sticks out of the crown. Chimneys with one flue are called single-flue chimneys. To add a chimney cap to them, you simply find the right-sized cap and install it right on the flue tile.
Other chimneys, though, are a bit more complex. Instead, they have two or more flues protruding from the crown. These are called multi-flue chimneys. To add a cap to these chimneys, you have two options:
- Install one single-flue chimney cap on each flue tile
- Add one multi-flue cap over all of the flues
Multi-flue caps have a few advantages. They provide better coverage and overall protection, they’re potentially more cost-effective (depending on how many flues are present), and they provide a cleaner, more aesthetically appealing appearance.
At HY-C, we manufacture a few different multi-flue chimney caps. But in this guide, we’re going to focus on our Draft King BigTop Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap.
We’ll cover the sizes in which they’re available, how much each size costs, the different heights they come in, and more.
By the time you’re finished here, you’ll be able to decide whether or not a galvanized steel BigTop is the right solution for your chimney.
Table of contents (click to jump to a section):
Discover the Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap
Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap Sizes
Finding which single-flue chimney cap size you need is easy. All you have to do is measure the length and width of your clay flue tile. That measurement determines the cap size you need. From there, you simply set the cap on top of your flue and bolt it into place.
Multi-flue chimney caps, on the other hand, are a little bit more complicated. They’re not installed on the chimney flue. Instead, they’re installed on top of the crown, covering multiple flues at once.
Clay flue tile sizes don’t have much variability. In fact, just three flue sizes — 9” x 9”, 9” x 13”, and 13” x 13” — account for approximately 90% of all single-flue chimneys.
Chimneys and chimney crowns, though, are much less consistent in their sizing. That’s why the Draft King BigTop Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Cap comes in 17 different stock sizes. The size you’ll need depends on the dimensions of your chimney’s crown:
|
Model Number |
Cap Dimensions |
Minimum Crown Size |
|
BBT1010 |
10" x 10" |
13" x 13" |
|
BBT1014 |
10" x 14" |
13" x 17" |
|
BBT1319 |
13" x 19" |
16" x 22" |
|
BBT1414 |
14" x 14" |
17" x 17" |
|
BBT1717 |
17" x 17" |
20" x 20" |
|
BBT1421K |
14" x 21" |
17" x 24" |
|
BBT1426K |
14" x 26" |
17" x 29" |
|
BBT1430K |
14" x 30" |
17" x 33" |
|
BBT1434K |
14" x 34" |
17" x 37" |
|
BBT1537K |
15" x 37" |
18" x 40" |
|
BBT1729K |
17" x 29" |
20" x 32" |
|
BBT1735K |
17" x 35" |
20" x 38" |
|
BBT1741K |
17" x 41" |
20" x 44" |
|
BBT1749K |
17" x 49" |
20" x 52" |
|
BBT1753K |
17" x 53" |
20" x 56" |
|
BBT1758K |
17" x 58" |
20" x 61" |
|
BBT1764K |
17" x 64" |
20" x 67" |
Note that three of these sizes (10” x 10”, 14” x 14”, and 17” x 17”) are made for square chimneys and chimney crowns. The other 11 are made for rectangular chimneys, a much more common shape for multi-flue caps.
Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap Heights
Draft King Galvanized Steel BigTops come in three unique heights: eight inches, ten inches, and fourteen inches. But which one should you get — and how can you tell?
It all has to do with the height of your flue tile.
As wood burns in your fireplace, it gives off smoke and other combustion byproducts. And if the hood of your chimney cap is too close to the flue tile, the flue won’t be able to draw correctly. This means you’ll have smoke, carbon monoxide, and other harmful gasses backing up into your home.
It’s vital for the hood of your chimney cap to be at least 5 inches from the top of your flue tile. That will give the flue enough room to draw properly and expel smoke safely.
Imagine your flue extends three inches from your chimney’s crown. With five inches of extra space added, that means your chimney needs an eight-inch Draft King BigTop cap.
The table below will help you find the right chimney cap height based on the height of your flue tile:
|
Flue Tile Height |
Cap Height Required |
|
0" to 3" |
8" |
|
3" to 5" |
10" |
|
5" to 9" |
14" |
If your flue tile protrudes 10 inches or more (which is unlikely), you’ll have to have it cut down a bit to accommodate a multi-flue cap.
Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap Prices
There are two primary factors that determine the price of a chimney cap:
- The material from which it’s made
- The size of the cap
We’ve already talked about size — this particular cap model may be as small as 10” x 10” and as large as 17” x 64”. But now, let’s talk about material.
Galvanized steel is about as economical as a chimney cap material gets. Aluminum caps are comparably priced (if not slightly higher). Stainless steel caps are much more durable and demand a higher price as a result. Finally, there’s copper — the ultra-expensive option.
With all of this in mind, here are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) of the Draft King BigTop Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue cap lineup:
|
Cap Dimensions |
MSRPs |
|
10" x 10" |
$125.99 to $150.39 |
|
10" x 14" |
$135.99 to $159.59 |
|
13" x 19" |
$155.39 to $178.19 |
|
14" x 14" |
$145.89 to $168.89 |
|
17" x 17" |
$165.89 to $187.39 |
|
14" x 21" |
$175.29 to $196.69 |
|
14" x 26" |
$185.79 to $205.99 |
|
14" x 30" |
$195.29 to $215.29 |
|
14" x 34" |
$205.79 to $224.49 |
|
15" x 37" |
$225.69 to $243.09 |
|
17" x 29" |
$215.19 to $233.79 |
|
17" x 35" |
$235.19 to $252.29 |
|
17" x 41" |
$245.69 to $261.59 |
|
17" x 49" |
$255.09 to $270.89 |
|
17" x 53" |
$265.59 to $280.09 |
|
17" x 58" |
$294.99 to $326.49 |
|
17" x 64" |
$350.69 to $372.79 |
Note that each cap lists a range of prices. This is to account for the fact that each cap size comes in three different heights (8”, 10”, and 14”).
Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap Installation
Installing a single-flue chimney cap is easy. As long as you have the right size, all you have to do is set it on your flue and bolt it on. Multi-flue caps, on the other hand, are a little bit more involved.
Each Draft King BigTop cap comes with two things to help facilitate the installation:
- A tube of adhesive
- Four masonry screws
To start, set the cap on your crown in its desired installation position. Trace a line around the perimeter of the cap onto the chimney crown — this will come in handy later.
Next, look at the holes in the flanges on each edge of the cap. Find one hole on each edge that you think will best accommodate a masonry screw (preferably toward the center of each flange). Mark each of these four holes. Remove the cap and set it aside.
Using a 3/16” drill bit, drill a 1-½” hole into each of the four spots you marked. Next, run a bead of adhesive along the perimeter of the cap about ½” inward from the line you traced earlier.
Now, set the cap back on the crown along the original line you traced, applying pressure from the top to seat the cap into the adhesive. Finally, drive the four masonry screws firmly into the four 1-½” holes you drilled with your drill bit.
After the screws are in, your installation will be complete. The adhesive will set within the next 24 hours.
Should You Get a Draft King Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap?
From size and price to installation, that’s just about all there is to know about the Draft King BigTop Galvanized Steel Multi-Flue Chimney Cap. You may still be wondering, though, “Should I get one of the caps for my chimney?”
The first step to finding that answer is to measure your chimney. If your chimney’s dimensions aren’t right for any of our 17 stock sizes, you’ll be out of luck. In this case, you’ll need to order a custom chimney cap instead.
If your chimney is the right size, the next option to consider is price. It may be wise to weigh the cost of multiple single-flue caps against the price of one multi-flue cap. If, say, two single-flue caps would be cheaper, you may want to opt for them instead.
As long as you have the right size, though, in the end, the choice of purchasing a multi-flue cap often comes down to convenience and aesthetics. If you think you can handle the installation and the cap is in your budget, give it a shot. It will provide fantastic protection for years to come.
If you’re still on the fence about a multi-flue chimney cap, be sure to read our review of our Draft King Galvanized Steel Single-Flue Caps. When paired together, they can provide the same solution for your multi-flue chimney in a potentially cheaper, easier-to-install package.
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