Chimney Services in Monroe Township (Gloucester County), NJ

What the numbers suggest for chimneys in Monroe Township

Census estimates split the township's 14,850 housing units nearly evenly across three eras: about 30% from the 1960s and 1970s, 29% from 1980 to 1999 and 29% since 2000. Masonry chimneys and factory-built systems both belong to that mix, and our guide to masonry vs. factory-built chimneys covers how each is put together.

About 82% of occupied homes heat with utility gas, 8% with fuel oil, 7% with electricity and 2% with propane. Homes still on oil keep a heating flue that collects soot and needs cleaning; see oil furnace and boiler flues.

About 71% of units are detached houses and 7% are attached. As with any Census table, these numbers sketch the township and say nothing certain about a specific chimney.

What the chase cover does on a framed chimney

A factory-built chimney pipe runs up through a wood-framed enclosure called a chase, finished outside with siding, stucco or stone veneer. A sheet-metal chase cover closes the top of that box. The chimney pipe passes through a collar in the cover, and the manufacturer's termination cap sits on the pipe above it. Hearth & Home Technologies states that one of its termination caps is intended for use with a metal chase top only, which shows how closely the two parts are designed to work together.

Because the enclosure is wood framing, water that gets past the cover goes straight into the structure: the framing, the sheathing, the insulation around the pipe and, in time, the ceiling or the firebox below. A masonry chimney can absorb some water and dry out; a framed chase has no such margin. Our guide to stains near the chimney describes where that water tends to appear indoors.

A cover is easiest to judge in two moments: once a year, when the chimney is inspected, and after a strong windstorm, when an edge can lift or a seam can open. From the ground, binoculars show most of what matters, including the color of the metal, streaks below it and whether the cap still sits straight. Leave the roof itself to someone with the right equipment.

Reading a chase cover from the ground and from the roof

• Rust streaks on the siding below the top of the chase mean the steel is corroding. Hearth & Home's cap instructions recommend rust-resistant paint to protect caps against corrosion, a hint at how exposed this metal is.
• A dip in the middle. A cover that has sagged holds a puddle around the collar, right where the pipe passes through.
• Gaps at the collar or edges, including a loose storm collar or a skirt pulled away from the siding.
• Soft or swollen trim at the top of the chase, often visible from a ladder at the eave.
• Water inside: drips in the firebox, stains on the ceiling near the chase or a musty smell from the fireplace.

When a cover has rusted through or dished, we replace it with an aluminum chase cover custom-made to the chase's measurements, including the collar position and diameter and the depth of the skirt. The termination cap stays the manufacturer's part, either reused if sound or replaced with the matching model. Our guide to chase cover materials compares aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless and copper.

Local questions

Sources

1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates (tables B25034, B25040, B25024), via Census Reporter
2. Hearth & Home Technologies: TS345 square termination cap installation instructions (PDF)