Chimney Caps?

[HillStreet]

I have a two flue masonry chimney, 6" and 8" round. Wood stove is connected to the 8" and the 6" is unused.

Should I use caps on these flues to keep out birds or weather? Have not had a problem other than wet residue when I do the annual cleaning.

Don't know why I'm thinking about this now after years of burning, but just wondering what then benefits might be.

Thanks

 

[Western]

I would sure have a spark arrestor (sp) on there! That will usually keep bird, rain, bugs out all year, as well as lower the chance your house catches fire.

 

[dmccarty]

...

Should I use caps on these flues to keep out birds or weather? Have not had a problem other than wet residue when I do the annual cleaning.

Don't know why I'm thinking about this now after years of burning, but just wondering what then benefits might be.

Thanks

TBN often scares me....

This morning I woke up to find a Bluebird in the wood stove. This happens almost every spring when the birds start looking for a nest. So it must be spring! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I need to go put up a screen of some kind to keep out the birds but I never get around to the job. I have never seen sparks fly out of the chimney but we do need something to keep the birds out. We had a warm spell the last few days that has been wonderful but it will be getting cold again this week. We had two fronts last week that had thunder which folklore says we will have more snow in 10 days. I hope not. Even the kids are tired of snoe. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[dave1949]

I have a SS cap with expanded metal screen. It clamps on the flue tile with four screws. Easy to remove for cleaning, has never blown off in the wind, keeps critters and most moisture out of the chimney. I don't think it affects the draft at all.

How is your unused flue holding up? I had a three flue chimney where the center flue was unused. The unused clay flue tile deteriorated and crumbled at the top of the chimney. I suspect it was because it never got dried out, and the other flues kept it cycling between frozen and thawed.

 

[Tollster]

I never had a cap on my 8" masonry flue. I would be more worried about the one NOT in use becoming permanently blocked with returning bird and such, may be cozy for years rounder's as well.
As long as you're 3' above the eves and 10' away from the nearest consumable surface, I wouldn't worry about the cap.

Depending on your height of the chimney, a cap can could impact your draft

Do you clean yearly? I find the moisture from rain, typically makes it a little easier to clean towards the clean out door at the bottom of the flue as well. But I have also seen unsightly resin stains around the interior stoves pipe tie in wall, and out side below the clean out box.

I think each case is different, which is exactly why you don't see them on every chimney.

 

[devildog1]

Yes go with the flue cap. I have a 13" square flue, if not capped leave an empty pail out on a rainy day and see how it fills up. But just a word of advice try and go with SS or aluminum because if it's steel and not painted and maintained the rust will leave a trail either on your roof or chimney.
DevilDog

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I have a two flue masonry chimney, 6" and 8" round. Wood stove is connected to the 8" and the 6" is unused.

Should I use caps on these flues to keep out birds or weather? Have not had a problem other than wet residue when I do the annual cleaning.

Don't know why I'm thinking about this now after years of burning, but just wondering what then benefits might be.

Thanks

I put a cap on my chimney probably 35 years ago. Keeps out the birds (main reason I put it up), besides keeping the birds out of the house, it keeps them from building their nests in the chimney...and it keeps the rain out of the fireplace. Other than that, it does create a really spectacular effect whenever you have a chimney fire.

 

[deerseeker001]

I have had a cap on mine for many years due to rain/snow going down flue also birds building nests.

 

[Gunny]

I had a bird build a nest in my chimney once years ago. We had an early cold spell and I built a fire before I'd cleaned the chimney. Momma wasn't happy with me when she got home! Not that expensive, easy to put on and it keeps Momma happy

 

[HillStreet]

I have a SS cap with expanded metal screen. It clamps on the flue tile with four screws. Easy to remove for cleaning, has never blown off in the wind, keeps critters and most moisture out of the chimney. I don't think it affects the draft at all.

How is your unused flue holding up? I had a three flue chimney where the center flue was unused. The unused clay flue tile deteriorated and crumbled at the top of the chimney. I suspect it was because it never got dried out, and the other flues kept it cycling between frozen and thawed.

Unused flue is fine. I clean every summer and check/ replace the caulk between flue tile and cap. House is just 3 years old and I buIlt the chimney myself (well, with help from my Vermont buddy). I might close off the 6 inch flue with a piece of thick granite slab I have laying around.

Think I'll get a cap for the 8".

Thank you

 

[HillStreet]

Tollster,

Thanks for info. Chimney is sufficient height above the gable as I built it 3 years ago. Draft has always been good once warmed up. Last thing i want to do is scoop birds out of the flue or stove.

 

[HillStreet]

dmccarty,

Yup, I'm on my way to Lowes to buy a cap. Can't install yet because of snow load but will have it at cleaning. Thanks

 

[HillStreet]

Yes go with the flue cap. I have a 13" square flue, if not capped leave an empty pail out on a rainy day and see how it fills up. But just a word of advice try and go with SS or aluminum because if it's steel and not painted and maintained the rust will leave a trail either on your roof or chimney.
DevilDog

Thank you, I have decided to cap the 8" and close off the 6" as I don't plan or need to use it. I will mark the flue opening though to warn that it's closed off.

 

[NativeSon]

I would sure have a spark arrestor (sp) on there! That will usually keep bird, rain, bugs out all year, as well as lower the chance your house catches fire.

Dennis- A Spark arrestor is pretty much standard equipment here in East Texas, what with the wind, the pine trees and the varmits.

Charlie

 

[NativeSon]

Just got an email that was about the EPA passing Regs that will limit the use of Wood Burning Stoves and will increase cost of new stoves.......imagine that.

Charlie

 

[chopped]

Well all i burn is wood. so now what? are they giving me magic fuel or do they plan to pay me to burn 5000 dollars of oil? a year?

Just got an email that was about the EPA passing Regs that will limit the use of Wood Burning Stoves and will increase cost of new stoves.......imagine that.

Charlie

 

[NativeSon]

Well all i burn is wood. so now what? are they giving me magic fuel or do they plan to pay me to burn 5000 dollars of oil? a year?

EPA is not who you want in your business. They were suppose to make us Energy independent.......still waiting.

Bureaucrats scare me worst than politicians.

Charlie

 

[jinman]

On the subject of chimney caps, I guess my opinion is "why not?". If you have trouble with your cap clogging, isn't that a good indicator of a problem? I have only ever had the expanded metal type with no clogging ever, but I don't heat my house with wood.

I do have a funny story about an uncapped chimney. I lost my cap in a windstorm at my last house many years ago when I was single. One night, I had a lady friend over and things were going quite well when all of a sudden there was a huge banging and flailing inside the fireplace. I made the mistake of opening the damper and out flew a bird. It flailed around the room for awhile, spreading soot and scaring the be-jesus out of my girlfriend. Finally, I got a patio door open and the bird outside. Of course, any "mood" was completely ruined. I guess my chimney damper was a love damper that night.

 

[V1Rotate]

On the subject of chimney caps, I guess my opinion is "why not?". If you have trouble with your cap clogging, isn't that a good indicator of a problem? I have only ever had the expanded metal type with no clogging ever, but I don't heat my house with wood.

I do have a funny story about an uncapped chimney. I lost my cap in a windstorm at my last house many years ago when I was single. One night, I had a lady friend over and things were going quite well when all of a sudden there was a huge banging and flailing inside the fireplace. I made the mistake of opening the damper and out flew a bird. It flailed around the room for awhile, spreading soot and scaring the be-jesus out of my girlfriend. Finally, I got a patio door open and the bird outside. Of course, any "mood" was completely ruined. I guess my chimney damper was a love damper that night.

Great story!