Gelco Chimney Cap Installation Nationwide

Gelco Chimney Cap Installation: The Huntington Owner’s Guide

We stock and install Gelco-compatible chimney caps across Huntington, with most replacements running $340 to $680 installed depending on flue size and whether your crown needs sealing work. Our trucks carry the common Gelco Series A and Series L sizes for standard Huntington flue dimensions, and we can typically schedule within a day or two during sweeping season. Most Huntington homeowners discover their cap has failed after a storm blows through West Neck or after finding rust flakes in the firebox, water stains on the hearth, or birds nesting in the flue come spring.

Call (631) 776-4075

Which Gelco Models This Applies To

Gelco caps fall into two main lines we see in Huntington: the Series A (single-flue, bolt-on) and the Series L (multi-flue, base-mount) models. The Series A uses a clamp-band or bolt-through attachment to the flue tile itself, while the Series L sits on a constructed base that spans the crown and gets anchored into the masonry. To identify yours, look for a stamped model number on the underside of the mesh screen or on the collar band - Gelco marks these clearly, though rust can obscure the stamp after a decade of Long Island salt air.

We match OEM Gelco specs or use quality equivalents from Copperfield and Famco when the original series has been discontinued. The aftermarket decision matters less than the fit: a cap even half an inch oversized on a Series A will gap at the collar and let water track down the flue. We measure flue tile outer dimensions and crown slope on every job in Huntington, because the 5/12 and 7/12 roof pitches common in neighborhoods like Southdown and Huntington Bay create downdraft conditions that punish a poorly fitted cap. Hearthstone Chimney Co. is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Gelco.

Signs Your Gelco Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing

• Rust streaks down the flue tile or firebox walls. Gelco caps use galvanized steel and stainless mesh, but the spot-welded collar seam is the first failure point. Once moisture breaches that seam, rust accelerates through freeze-thaw cycles - and Huntington’s coastal humidity makes this worse than inland Suffolk County.
• Mesh screen pulling away from the frame or sagging. This happens when the spot welds corrode or when a previous installer used a generic screen replacement. A sagging screen blocks draft, traps creosote, and can collapse into the flue during a chimney fire.
• Water on the hearth after rain, especially wind-driven rain. The cap’s overhang and drip edge are designed to shed water clear of the flue. When the lid warps or the mounting bolts loosen, water finds the flue opening directly - and Huntington’s northeasters drive rain sideways.
• Birds, squirrels, or raccoons in the flue. A Gelco cap with intact 5/8-inch mesh prevents animal entry. If you’re hearing scratching or finding nesting debris, either the mesh has corroded through or a previous cap was removed and never replaced.
• The cap is missing entirely after a storm. This usually means the mounting bolts pulled out of deteriorated flue tile or the clamp band failed. We see this most often on homes near Huntington Harbor where wind exposure is highest, and it always warrants a Level-2 inspection to check for hidden flue damage.

Replacement Cost & What’s Included

What drives the range: flue tile condition, accessibility (steep roofs above two stories add time), and whether we need to fabricate a custom base for an irregular crown. Every estimate includes the cap, stainless fasteners, high-temp sealant at the collar, and a photo-documented inspection. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise covers the installation in writing - if water gets past our work, we come back. No arguing, no paperwork chase. The number we quote is the number on the invoice.

DIY or Call Us?

An owner can safely check whether the cap is present, whether the mesh is intact from ground level with binoculars, and whether water appears on the hearth after rain. Do not climb the roof to tighten bolts or remove a stuck cap - Huntington’s older homes, particularly the cape cods and colonials built in the 1950s and 1960s, often have brittle flue tile that cracks under torque. A cap that seems “loose” may be the only thing keeping a deteriorated flue crown from collapsing.

We carry Gelco-compatible caps, mounting hardware, and crown sealant on every truck. Most replacements in Huntington complete in under two hours, and you’ll get photos of the flue condition before and after. Call (631) 776-4075 - a live person answers, day or night.

FAQs