First, I confess: I did not clean my chimney at the end of last season. I just did it this past week...in plenty of time for burning. I took off the pipe from the stove to the chimney. Found one dead bird and some creosote that I didn't like. Got rid of the bird and sprayed oven cleaner in the pipe (about 5' run of pipe) and let it set. then pulled the bottom of the chimney stack and had another dead bird drop on me. Outside of the bird the chimney was pretty clean. I know I did not have the driest wood last year, and got about half a large coffee can of crusty creosote, it fell right off with the brush and the pipe was nice and shiny inside again. Finished cleaning the regular stove pipe and sprayed it with some high temp satin black. Put it all back together and she looks sweet and ready to go. ...Looking at my chimney cap...no screen...and I knew that when we put it up...never thought I would have a bird issue...I was wrong....ugh...will be a bit of a major protect to get some good hardware cloth up there now...hind sight is 20 20. So...at least things are clean and safe and ready to burn...the season of the Baby Bear is upon us!
Hello Shack I usually put a screen on after the season but as soon as I start burning I take it off I always had trouble with buildup on the screens during burning season my shop furnace I start usually in october here and it runs 24/7 untill spring
only problem with screens is they plug up at the least desirable times, better to find a cap that is more discouraging to the little varmints. the ones i have been using are sorta like concentric rings 20 years no birds no mesh inside it either
Yeah I had to take my screen off...it was plugging up way too often (I had wet wood too ) My cap now has screen, but it is larger...like 3/4", what I had before was 1/2" (IIRC) Keeps the birds out but no plugging issues (have dry wood now though too)
been trying to find one on line- no dice and I can't get close enough to it on the roof got to make some over the peak hooks for the ladder portion to place on roof to be able to get to it. steep roof- It's a Selkirk but i do not see it on line
Shack If you can get ya some stainless or mild steel expanded metal and wrap it around the cap and have someone "tack" weld it on the cap. No birds, "ever" will not clog unless your burning some nasty wet pine. Or gut the cap and put in wider screen. Here is a pic of mine when I first made it, Been there now 27 years so far. Yes my facia was getting replaced that year, looked like crap...
Thanks for trying. My Chimney is a Selkirk too. I can call my supplier and see if he has something laying around his shop.
Can't wait to fire my baby bear.... I've had the Buck Stove lit 4 or 5 times already but the bear is patiently waiting. Need to clean my chimneys too.. Chimney sweeping is one of those tasks that really doesn't take very much effort or time but always gets put off. I always seem to revert to splitting.....
I had some plugging going on screen always had to clean it periodically... but when the summer storm blew it off, I replaced it with the same style. But I just went in and cut out bigger squares in the wire.
