Learn how to clean a spark arrestor on your chimney or combustion engine safely and effectively to prevent clogs or a buildup of fumes.
What Does a Spark Arrestor Do, and Why Is It a Must-Have Chimney Part?
Prevent sparks from flying with this simple chimney part
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A chimney cap with a mesh screen keeps burning embers inside your flue, protecting your roof and yard from fire hazards.
Professional chimney cap installation costs range from $75 to $500, and fixing damaged mesh early helps prevent bigger safety problems.
Your chimney needs an exterior mesh spark catcher to meet local building codes and support safe, approved fireplace use in your area.
Hiring a local chimney cap installation professional ensures the cap screen meets safety regulations and fits correctly for reliable fire protection.
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Nothing beats gathering around your home’s crackling fireplace on cold winter nights. However, fireplaces and their chimneys are common causes of house fires, so meticulous installation and maintenance are a must. The spark arrestor is a small but significant part of the chimney that’s essential for fire safety. But what does a spark arrestor do, and why is it a legal requirement for most chimneys and many other combustion sources? Read on to learn more.
What Are Spark Arrestors and How Do They Work?
Spark arrestors are fire safety devices for emissions systems. They act as physical barriers, preventing stray scorching carbon particles thrown out during the burning process from escaping and igniting on contact with combustible materials. Typically made of appropriately sized, non-flammable steel mesh, spark arrestors allow air to flow while trapping or pulverizing sparks that could be a fire hazard.
Spark Arrestor Uses
Spark arrestors are used on various general-purpose engines to prevent exhaust particles from coming into contact with flammable oil or gas. Examples of the types of engines you can find spark arrestors on include:
Cars
Motorcycles
Boats
Chainsaws
Lawn trimmers
Leaf blowers
Lawn mowers
Rototillers
However, the most common residential use for spark arrestors, and the one it’s handiest for homeowners to be aware of, is in fireplaces and chimneys.
Fireplace and Chimney Spark Arrestors
Escaping embers from your wood-burning stove or fireplace are major fire hazards. To reduce the risk, every home with a fireplace must have exterior spark arrestors on the chimney.
The exterior spark arrestor fits underneath or is integrated into the cap sitting atop your chimney. It prevents burning particles from escaping outside, potentially setting fire to your roof or leaf debris or dry shrubbery in your yard or other nearby landscapes.
Fireplace hearth screens act as interior spark arrestors for open fireplaces. They provide a protective barrier for people and pets and prevent airborne embers from setting your furniture alight.
How to Install Spark Arrestors
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You will need an exterior spark arrestor if you are installing a wood-burning stove or fireplace with a new chimney or replacing an existing one. Chimney spark arrestors are available to buy and DIY install. Pick an arrestor that fits the local regulation guidance regarding mesh width and positioning, and ensure it’s the correct size for your chimney flue. Installation methods vary, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
While this is a job a handy homeowner can tackle, it involves working at heights and at an awkward angle. Plus, if you get the installation wrong, you could increase the fire hazard risk and invalidate your home insurance.
While the exact details vary by municipality, there are spark arrestor regulations with specific requirements regarding the size of the spark arrestor mesh and the device position. Hiring a licensed and insured local chimney cap installer ensures the job will be done quickly, safely and correctly. Professional chimney cap installation costs between $75 and $500—expect chimney spark arrestor costs to be similar.
Spark Arrestor Maintenance
Arranging an annual chimney and fireplace inspection and cleaning is a good idea. A local chimney repair company can clean, repair, or replace the spark arrestor if it does not meet current safety standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chimney repairs reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.7★ avg. • 13 total reviews
- Julio V.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
The Waterworks - Brent C.
Carpet repair done well. Scheduling was easy. Showed up on time.
BR Flooring Installation - Mike Z.
As usual with ECO, tech Jordan was outstanding, very professional, very knowledgeable, and very thorough with repairs made to tankless water heaters. Very highly recommend ECO!!!
Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians - Austin Y.
I would recommend this company to anyone! He showed up on time, was friendly, completed a very difficult repair on our dryer vent cover, was responsive, and pricing was extremely fair and competitive. I would have him back to do any of our repairs or cleanings without hesitation!
U.S.A. Dryer Vent, LLC - Donald L.
Ace Fireplace Services came to the rescue for my chimney repair. They were quick to pinpoint the issue and worked their magic to fix it. My chimney is now in excellent shape, and I'm a satisfied customer.
Ace Fireplace Services - Bobby G.
This company went above and beyond with their work, chimney sweeps are usually pretty messy, but the clean up was spot on.!! Josh explained every thing that he was doing, and the things that he was checking to make sure the chimney was safe for me and my family. He was very professional,...
Supreme brick & chimney - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Nicholas B.
Great experience all together. Dog friendly, courteous, great results and honest with recommendations. Will certainly be using Cardinal in the future for any carpet repairs
Cardinal Carpet Care & Repair - Patty L.
Working with Peter and his crew was a breeze. They were exceptionally polite and did a neat job to repair and seal our driveway. I will definitely talk to them first for additional work.
Central Paving - Dirk W.
Chaz, the owner, was very responsive and he communicated with us throughout the entire process. The overall cost was in the middle compared to the three estimates we received. The installation crew was very professional. Chaz was considerate enough to send a crew back to our home to repair...
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