HY-C

What HY-C does

HY-C Company is a privately held, US-based manufacturer of home solution products headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1947 and operating as a multi-brand portfolio of 15+ registered trademarks. Its product lines span chimney caps and cleaning equipment (Draft King, SootEater), DIY cleaning tools (Gardus — LintEater, SpinAway, GutterSweep, SnugDryer, Soot Eraser), indoor wood burning furnaces (Fire Chief, Shelter), wildlife exclusion hardware (HY-GUARD EXCLUSION), fireplace grates and accessories (Liberty Foundry Co.), heat reclaimers (Magic Heat), outdoor power equipment upgrades (Good Vibrations), smokeless fire pits (Flame Genie), and commercial wood heating (GARN). Core technical content includes proprietary rotary cleaning systems with button-link and screw-connect rod technologies, UL-approved heat reclaimers, and EPA-certified residential wood furnaces. All products are manufactured in the USA, and the company maintains a custom chimney cap program that has produced 9,000+ units since 2020.

The company generates revenue through wholesale hardware sales to a network of major US home improvement retailers — Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, and Rural King — alongside wholesale distributors (Orgill, DoItBest, True Value, WMS Simpson) and specialty retailers such as WildlifeControlSupplies. Pricing is pay-as-you-go unit pricing with typical ASPs of $50–$150 for chimney caps and approximately $60 for DIY cleaning kits, making the model a high-volume, low-ticket hardware business. Its primary end customers are DIY residential homeowners seeking weather, fire, and pest protection, with a secondary segment of professional HVAC contractors, chimney sweeps, and wildlife control operators served through trade associations (NPMA, NWCOA, NCSG, CSIA). Customer engagement is supported by content marketing through a Learning Center blog, product demonstration videos, and live US-based customer service in St. Louis.

The company shows no evidence of external equity backing, parent ownership, or public listing. It has no disclosed subsidiaries, no M&A history, and no funding rounds in the source data. Operationally, the firm is actively selling across all major channels, holds relevant EPA and UL certifications, and continues to extend its product portfolio — most notably through the custom chimney cap initiative and the GARN commercial wood heating line.

Name

HY-C

Legal name

HY-C Company

Website

https://hy-c.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HY-C is a privately-held US manufacturer, founded in 1947 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that produces and distributes home protection products including chimney caps, dryer vent cleaning tools, wildlife exclusion devices, wood burning furnaces, and fireplace accessories under 15+ brands, sold through major home improvement retailers and wholesale distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Home Improvement Hardware

NAICS

Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Major Household Appliance Manufacturing (33522)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430), Steam & Air-Conditioning Supply (4961)

akta.pro primary industry

Louvers, Vents & Architectural Grilles (IMADAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Heat Exchangers, Coils & Hydronic HVAC Components (IMADANAF), Home Improvement & DIY (Tools, Hardware, Paint) Distribution (CRAOAFAC), Flea, Tick & Mite Home/Indoor Control (CRAJAHAH)

Keywords

• Chimney caps
• Dryer vent cleaning
• Wildlife exclusion products
• Wood burning furnaces
• Fireplace accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: HY-C generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of durable home solution hardware products. Products are sold as one-time purchases through retail and distribution channels. The company offers products under multiple branded lines including Draft King, Fire Chief, Shelter, HY-GUARD EXCLUSION, Gardus, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HY-C develops, manufactures, and distributes a portfolio of home solution products under multiple brands including Draft King (chimney caps), Fire Chief and Shelter (wood burning furnaces), HY-GUARD EXCLUSION (wildlife control), Gardus (rotary cleaning tools such as LintEater and SootEater), Magic Heat (heat reclaimers), Liberty Foundry Co. (fireplace grates), Flame Genie (smokeless fire pits), and GARN (commercial wood heating). Products are made in the USA and sold through major home improvement retailers, wholesale distributors, and specialty channels.

Product overview

HY-C is a multi-brand home solution products company offering a diverse portfolio of brands and products focused on home protection, heating, cleaning, and wildlife exclusion. The company operates under multiple distinct brands including Draft King® (chimney caps), Fire Chief® and Shelter® (wood burning furnaces), HY-GUARD EXCLUSION® (wildlife control), Gardus® (rotary cleaning tools including LintEater®, SootEater®, SnugDryer®, GutterSweep™, SpinAway™), Liberty Foundry Co.™ (fireplace grates), Magic Heat® (heat reclaimers), Good Vibrations® (outdoor equipment), Flame Genie® (smokeless fire pits), and GARN® (commercial wood heating). Products span categories including chimney caps and cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, wildlife exclusion, wood burning furnaces, fireplace accessories, stove boards, firewood storage, and outdoor power equipment. The company emphasizes USA-made quality with products designed to protect homes and improve energy efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Draft King®: Chimney caps brand providing spark arresting chimney caps to keep pests and precipitation out of chimney flues and fireboxes.
• Fire Chief®
• Shelter® / Shelter® Pro
• HY-GUARD EXCLUSION®
• Gardus®
• Liberty Foundry Co.™
• Magic Heat®
• Good Vibrations®
• Flame Genie®
• GARN®
• Ignite Tech®
• SnapLok®
• FasLok®
• 4mit™

Products and services

• Draft King Single Flue Stainless Steel Chimney Caps Durable stainless steel chimney caps available in bolt-on, slip-in, and universal styles for square, rectangular, and round flue sizes, featuring 16-gauge stainless steel base, 18-gauge mesh, and 24-gauge hood for weather and wildlife exclusion. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Draft King Universal Chimney Caps Stainless steel chimney caps with internal anchor tension-fit system compatible with low or unexposed flue tiles, available in 13" x 13" and 13" x 20" sizes for rectangular, square, and oval flues. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Draft King Round Chimney Caps Stainless steel round chimney caps available in bolt-on and slip-in styles for round masonry flue sizes from 7.5" to 18.5" diameter. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Fire Chief Indoor Wood Burning Furnaces EPA-certified indoor wood burning furnaces providing whole-home or supplemental heating, including FC1000, FC1000E, FC1500, FC1700, and FC1900 models. Targeted at residential homeowners seeking wood-based heating solutions.
• Shelter Wood Burning Furnaces Multi-product line offering wood burning furnaces including SF1000E, SF2600, SF3100, and SF4200 models under the Shelter and Shelter Pro brands. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• HY-GUARD EXCLUSION Wildlife Exclusion Products Wildlife exclusion products including chimney guards, roof vent guards, soffit vent screens, dryer vent guards, foundation vent screens, and Pest Armor for preventing raccoons, squirrels, snakes, and other animals from entering homes. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Gardus LintEater Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit Drill-powered rotary dryer vent cleaning kit with auger brush head and four 3-foot nylon extension rods for DIY dryer vent maintenance. Includes blockage removal tool, vacuum adapter, and lint trap brush. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Gardus LintEater Pro Dryer Vent Cleaning Kit Professional-grade drill-powered rotary dryer vent cleaning kit with quick-connect button-link rods allowing forward and reverse drill operation. Includes four 3-foot rods for 12 feet of reach. Targeted at professional contractors and serious DIY homeowners.
• Gardus SootEater Chimney Liner Cleaning Kit Drill-powered rotary chimney liner cleaning system with trim-to-fit whip head design for cleaning 5" to 9" flue liners. Includes eight 3-foot button-link rods (24-foot reach) or eleven rods (33-foot European version). Targeted at residential homeowners and chimney professionals.
• Gardus SnugDryer Dryer Vent Connection Kit Space-saving dryer vent wall plate and connection system that allows the dryer to sit closer to the wall, eliminating flexible pipe issues and improving dryer efficiency and safety. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Gardus Soot Eraser Surface Scrubber Dry-use cleaning sponge made from vulcanized rubber for cleaning soot, ash, and combustion byproducts from brick, drywall, wood, tile, and other surfaces around fireplaces and wood stoves. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Magic Heat Heat Reclaimers UL-approved heat reclaimers that recover up to 30% of heat lost from wood or coal burning stoves, with built-in soot scraper and thermostat control. Models available for 6" and 8" pipe diameters. Targeted at residential homeowners with wood/coal stoves.
• Shelter Type 2 UL-Rated Stove Boards UL1618-tested stove boards providing thermal protection, ember resistance, and scratch protection for combustible floors and walls. Available in 8 sizes and 3 finishes (Black, Woodgrain, Gray Slate). Targeted at residential homeowners with wood stoves.
• Shelter Log Racks Steel firewood racks available in 5 sizes holding 1,000 to 4,000 pounds of wood. Features black powder coat finish and open-air design for ventilation to protect firewood from rot and pests. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Liberty Foundry Co. Fireplace Grates Cast iron and steel bar fireplace grates designed to fit various firebox sizes, including Saf-T-Grate, adjustable fireplace hoods, firebacks, smoke guards, and furnace tool sets. Targeted at residential homeowners.
• Good Vibrations Outdoor Power Equipment Upgrades Outdoor power equipment upgrades including Easy Rider, Get-A-Grip, Hitchin' Post+, Seat Magic, Start Me Up, Wheelies, and Zero Gravity for lawn mowers, tractors, trimmers, and zero turn mowers. Targeted at residential homeowners and rural customers.
• Flame Genie Smokeless Fire Pits Smokeless fire pits for camping and backyard entertainment that burn wood pellet fuel, along with Flame Tower and Flame Cradle accessories. Targeted at residential consumers for outdoor living.
• GARN Commercial Wood Heating Furnaces American-made commercial forced-air wood burning furnaces and gasification wood boilers including GN1000, GN1500, GN2000, and GN3200 models. Targeted at commercial facilities and high-heating-load residential customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Magic Heat reclaimer saves up to 30% of heat lost from wood burning appliances
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MenardscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor home improvement retail chain offering HY-C products both in-store and online through their e-commerce platform.
• Lowe'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational home improvement retailer providing broad distribution for HY-C products across the United States.
• Home DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor home improvement retailer offering HY-C products through physical stores and online marketplace.
• Ace HardwaremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardware cooperative providing HY-C products through independently owned Ace Hardware stores.
• Tractor SupplymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRural lifestyle retailer offering HY-C products targeting farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners.
• Rural KingmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFarm and home retailer with focus on rural customers who need chimney, wildlife, and heating products.
• WildlifeControlSuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty e-commerce retailer focused on wildlife control professionals and products.
• NPMA (National Pest Management Association)minorOthersTrade association membership providing industry credibility and professional networking.
• NWCOA (National Wildlife Control Operators Association)minorOthersTrade association for wildlife control operators, relevant to HY-GUARD EXCLUSION product line.
• NCSG (National Chimney Sweep Guild)minorOthersIndustry guild for chimney professionals, relevant to chimney cap and cleaning product lines.
• CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America)minorOthersNon-profit organization promoting chimney safety standards and education.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DuraVent: Leading North American manufacturer of chimney, venting, and air-distribution products under brands including DuraVent, Selkirk, and PelletVent, competing head-to-head with HY-C in chimney components and venting.
• US Stove Company: Established US manufacturer of wood stoves, corn stoves, and small heating appliances, overlapping directly with HY-C's Fire Chief, Shelter, and Magic Heat product categories in residential solid-fuel heating.
• Englander: Manufacturer of wood, pellet, and coal stoves with retail presence at Home Depot, Tractor Supply, and Ace Hardware, directly comparable to HY-C's Fire Chief and Shelter wood furnace lines in the same retail channels.
• Central Boiler: Manufacturer of outdoor wood and corn-burning furnaces distributed through a dealer network across the US, directly competing with HY-C's Fire Chief indoor wood furnace and GARN commercial wood heating lines.
• Dundas Jafine: Manufacturer of dryer venting, chimney caps, and HVAC accessories sold through home improvement retailers, directly overlapping with HY-C's Gardus and HY-GUARD EXCLUSION product families.
• Ashley Hearth Products: Wood and coal stove brand sold primarily through rural and farm-and-ranch retailers such as Tractor Supply and Rural King, mirroring HY-C's rural-channel distribution footprint and competing in the entry-level solid-fuel heating category.
• Vogelzang: Manufacturer of wood stoves, fireplace inserts, and stove accessories sold through mass retail and hearth dealers, competing with HY-C in the value-tier wood heating and fireplace grate segments.
• Copperfield Chimney Supply: Specialty distributor and manufacturer of chimney caps, liners, and related venting products, directly competing with HY-C's Draft King and HY-GUARD EXCLUSION lines in the same DIY and pro channel.

Broad incumbents

• Hearth & Home Technologies: Largest US manufacturer of hearth products (Heatilator, Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Vermont Castings, Harman), serving the same residential heating and fireplace customer base as HY-C's Fire Chief, Shelter, and Liberty Foundry lines but at materially greater scale.
• Napoleon: Diversified manufacturer of fireplaces, stoves, grills, and HVAC products with significant US retail distribution, competing broadly with HY-C's fireplace, wood stove, and outdoor living (Flame Genie) categories as a larger, multi-category incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hy-c

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HY-C