Chimney caps are hard to shop for, mostly because you’ll really only ever need to buy one or two in your life. That’s what makes it that much more important to find the perfect cap from the beginning.
As with any buying decision, though, you don’t want to go in blind. You want to ensure you know the ins and outs of the product you’re considering to make sure it’s right for you.
At HY-C, we’ve been manufacturing chimney caps since 1947. And in this guide, we’re going to take a close, in-depth look at our Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap — one of our best sellers.
We’ll consider the sizes the cap comes in, how much each size costs, its durability, and even some caveats to consider. By the time you’re finished here, you’ll be able to decide whether or not a Draft King Stainless Steel Cap is right for you.
Table of contents (click a link to jump to a section):
Discover the Draft King Single Flue Stainless Steel Chimney Cap
Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Sizes
When it comes to finding the right chimney cap size, it all starts with the flue — the clay tile that sticks out of your chimney. Chimney flues come in four distinct shapes:
- Square
- Rectangular
- Round
- Oval
The line of caps we’re covering here are for square and rectangular flues only. If your flue is round, you’ll have to take a look at some round chimney caps instead.
If you do have a square or rectangular flue, the next step is to measure the dimensions of your flue tile. Draft King Stainless Steel Caps come in 11 different sizes, and each one fits a range of square and rectangular chimney flue dimensions:
|
Model Number |
Minimum Flue Tile Size |
Maximum Flue Tile Size |
|
SS59* |
3½” x 7½” |
5½” x 9½” |
|
SS99** |
7½” x 7½” |
9½” x 9½” |
|
SS913* |
7½” x 11½” |
9½” x 13½” |
|
SS918* |
7½” x 16½” |
9¼” x 18¼” |
|
SS1111** |
9¾” x 9¾” |
12" x 12" |
|
SS1216* |
10" x 14" |
12½” x 16¼” |
|
SS1313** |
11½” x 11½” |
13½” x 13½” |
|
SS1318* |
11½” x 16½” |
13¼” x 18¼” |
|
SS1515** |
13¾” x 13¾” |
16" x 16" |
|
SS1818** |
16½” x 16½” |
18" x 18" |
|
SS2020** |
18½” x 18½” |
20¼” x 20¼” |
After you find the dimensions of your chimney flue tile, all you have to do is find the corresponding cap size in the table above.
For example, if your tile measures 12½” x 12½”, you’ll need an SS1313 (which fits square flues between 11½” x 11½” and 13½” x 13½”).
Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Prices
The next factor to consider when you’re buying a chimney cap is its price. Galvanized steel is one of the most economical chimney cap materials. Stainless steel, on the other hand, tends to be a bit more expensive, but it offers better quality and performance.
With regard to Draft King Stainless Steel Caps, there’s another factor to consider whether or not the cap is painted.
Most stainless steel Draft King chimney caps are manufactured, sold, and installed with a natural, untreated stainless steel finish. We do offer each cap with a black powder coat finish, though. This finish provides additional protection from the elements, resulting in a longer-lasting cap. Some people also prefer the aesthetics of the black cap to the natural stainless finish.
Note that a stainless steel cap with a powder coat does incur a bit of additional cost. With all of that in mind, here are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRPs) of our Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Caps (keep in mind that prices may vary a bit from retailer to retailer):
|
Model Number (Unpainted) |
MSRP |
Model Number (Painted) |
MSRP |
|
SS59U |
$108.59 |
SS59P |
$128.59 |
|
SS99U |
$127.39 |
SS99P |
$147.99 |
|
SS913U |
$146.89 |
SS913P |
$167.29 |
|
SS918U |
$185.99 |
SS918P |
$206.19 |
|
SS1111U |
$166.49 |
SS1111P |
$186.79 |
|
SS1216U |
$224.29 |
SS1216P |
$245.19 |
|
SS1313U |
$205.59 |
SS1313P |
$225.69 |
|
SS1318U |
$264.39 |
SS1318P |
$283.99 |
|
SS1515U |
$244.79 |
SS1515P |
$264.59 |
|
SS1818U |
$283.99 |
SS1818P |
$303.39 |
|
SS2020U |
$303.59 |
SS2020P |
$322.79 |
A quick note about the model numbers listed here (using SS1313 as an example):
- “SS” stands for “stainless steel”
- “1313” denotes the dimensions of the cap (i.e., 13” x 13”)
- “U” stands or “unpainted”
- “P” stands for “painted”
Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Mesh Sizes
We’ve taken a deep dive into chimney cap mesh sizes before, but we’ll summarize the main points here.
The mesh is the diamond-shaped metal that makes up the body of the chimney cap. Its main purpose is to keep wildlife from getting into your chimney while still allowing your flue to draft properly. Chimney caps are typically made with one of two mesh sizes:
- A wider ¾” mesh
- A tighter ⅝” mesh
In order to maintain a good draft (that is, to allow smoke to flow out of the chimney without getting blocked), it’s important to make the mesh as wide as possible. That’s why in the vast majority of cases, the wider ¾” mesh is ideal.
Another important job of chimney cap mesh, though, is to arrest sparks (that is, block any stray sparks that have traveled up the flue from floating out of the chimney and toward flammable materials).
In dry states that are prone to forest fires, arresting sparks is vitally important. That’s why some places like California and Oregon require the tighter, spark-arresting ⅝” mesh. And while this mesh will catch sparks and possibly prevent fires, its broader surface area may cause smoke to roll back into your home.
That’s why, unless you’re required to by law, you should opt for caps with ¾” mesh.
The Draft King line of stainless steel caps offers both ¾” and ⅝” mesh sizes. Be sure to check your local laws to understand whether or not you need ⅝” mesh.
Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Durability
The MSRP for a 13” x 13” Draft King Galvanized Steel Chimney Cap is about $91. The MSRP for the same cap in stainless steel, though, is about $206 — more than double the price.
Why is that?
Well, stainless steel is a much more durable metal than galvanized steel, especially in wood burning applications.
Galvanized steel chimney caps are okay to use for light wood burning applications — for instance, an occasional fire in the fireplace during the fall or winter. They should not be used at all for flues used with oil-burning and coal-burning appliances.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, can be used on heavily used wood burning appliances like a wood burning furnace or a wood stove. They’re also fit for coal-burning and oil-burning appliances.
Finally, galvanized steel is not made to handle environments within 25 miles of a saltwater coast. The salty sea air degrades the metal relatively quickly, and your cap will need to be replaced much more quickly than normal.
Stainless steel is designed to last in these kinds of environments. If you live near a body of saltwater, it’s a good idea to pay a bit more for a stainless steel chimney cap upfront. It’ll save you from having to replace your cap in the long run.
Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap Installation
All Draft King chimney caps (including these stainless steel models) feature a proprietary corner-secure mounting system. This attachment style has two distinct advantages:
- It’s more secure than mounting to the side of the flue tile
- The corner is the strongest portion of the flue and is least likely to crumble due to overly tightened bolts
Draft King chimney caps also come with a protective metal strip that shields the flue tile from the head of the bolt during installation.
For flues that protrude one inch or less from the chimney crown and can’t accommodate a bolt-on installation, Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Caps are also compatible with our stainless steel leg conversion kit.
The kit comes with four legs that attach to each of the corners. From there, the cap converts from a bolt-on installation style to a slip-in installation style. Just slide the cap into your flue, and it will be held in place by tension.
Should You Get a Draft King Stainless Steel Chimney Cap?
From dimensions and sizes to prices and installation, that’s everything you need to know about the Draft King line of stainless steel chimney caps. The question remains, though: should you get one of these chimney caps for your flue?
That depends.
If you have a round chimney flue, these caps are off the menu. From there, though, there are a few factors that can help guide your decision.
If you use your wood burning appliance often, it’s a good idea to spend a bit more money on a stainless steel cap. They stand up to combustion byproducts better than galvanized steel caps over the long term. If you only use your appliance intermittently, though, a galvanized steel chimney cap may offer a more appealing price point for you.
If you live within 25 miles of a body of saltwater, a stainless steel cap is a no-brainer. It will last much longer than a galvanized steel cap, saving you money in the long run.
Whichever cap you decide on, though, you’ll need to know how to install it. Our chimney cap installation guide covers seven unique chimney cap installation styles, including the bolt-on and slip-in methods that the Draft King Stainless Steel Cap uses. Brush up on it and be prepared to install your cap after you buy it!
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