Guys and gals, keep an eye on those spark arrestors!!

This easily happens with dry wood and superb burning practices as well. It just takes longer. The problem is the screen. If you are not required by some odd local rule or rodent issues to have one then you might consider removing it. I did.

 

I'd say that's just horrible wood burning practice. Being new to wood burning, that is one of the things I've worried about the most. I have a bird screen on mine full time, 1/2" mesh just like that, and I keep an eye on it from the ground. Mine is 12 feet above my roof, so I have a round bristle brush taped to an old broom handle that I can use to brush it off if need be. Into my 3rd year of burning, I haven't really needed it. Highbeam, maybe I should consider removing it, but for now I'll keep monitoring.

The facebook post tells people to not forget to remove it come wood burning season. If I was going to put birdscreen on temporarily, I wouldn't install it from the inside of the rain cap, I would wrap it around the outside to make it easy to remove.

 

I need a bird screen but have not pursued it for this reason! I burn 3-4 year seasoned wood and I know creosote would still build up on the wire. I don't want to go up there multiple times a year. Already had a starling completely plug my pipe once, what to do...

 

Really? The caps from duravent have this optional bird screen but it's certainly not a spark arrestor. Obviously, if this could jeopardize your home insurance that would be important information but I've never heard of such a thing. My chimneys were inspected by the AHJ without bird screens at all and passed with flying colors.

 

Another great reminder to wait until AFTER the job is done to smoke a joint

 

I think he was saying he smoked a joint in the spring and forgot to take it off in the fall blaming the weed, i dont need to smoke a joint to forget half the crap i need to do.

 

I agree.Looks as if plenty of tar filled pine was burned in that stove.The screen for me is too narrow.My screen is 3/4 " mesh.Narrow enough to keep the birds out and wide enough not to clog too fast.

 

WOW!

 

Stove had a serious case of crusty azz.

 

If you must use a screen, I would use the biggest “legal” mesh you can get away with and be ready to clean it mid season. Keep an eye on it.

 

So...the pic in original post....how do you clean that? Take it down and burn it off in the yard? Spray with some kind of miraculous cleaner?

 

It will depend on how gooey it is. Mine plugged with dry stuff that could be brushed off easily from inside and out with a regular wire brush like for welding. Think dark brown cornflakes.

 

That looks right nasty....