Where to Find an Open Style Chimney Cap

pen · Oct 6, 2009

Afternoon all!

I'm looking for an open style chimney cap to put on the top of a square tile lined chimney. This style cap is all that I am finding

I do not want a cap that has the "mesh" around it, all I want to do is keep rain out.

The chimney's crown is curved so without doing that, I can't simply use bricks and a big rock like many people in my area do.

Other than having a local metal shop fab one any suggestions? I can't find what I'm looking for in any big boxes, local hardwares, or online thus far.

Thanks,

pen

greythorn3 · Oct 6, 2009

isnt the screen to keep birds out?

pen · Oct 6, 2009

greythorn3 said:
isnt the screen to keep birds out?

I don't really care if a bird gets in there. I just want to keep water out. What I don't want is for creosote to build up on it like I have seen on so many.

My grandfather always kept this covered in the summer and open in the winter. This worked fine since he burned all winter. Grandma only burns intermittently so I think a cap would help water from filling the bottom of this chimney. There is no cleanout since the chimney runs underground.

Even though the wood being burned here is excellent, it's still being burned in an old fisher. This is for my grandmothers house. Grandma changing to an epa stove is not at all likely.

pen

greythorn3 · Oct 6, 2009

is them plugging up with creostle pretty common?

theheatelement · Oct 6, 2009

greythorn3 said:
is them plugging up with creostle pretty common?

It can be with leaves getting attached to it and what not... We sell half and half, half with the bird cage the other half without them... I just make what they order..

Wet1 · Oct 6, 2009

I agree that the screened caps can get clogged, but that might not be such a bad thing. I'm going to install a larger cap this season, one that has a larger surface area on the screen so it won't clog rapidly. I'm hoping this will not clog in the future, at least not quickly using seasoned wood with a cat stove. What I like about having the screen (other than it obviously keeping birds and squirrels out) is that they also do a nice job of warning you the flue might be ready for a cleaning. If the cap is really clogged, it's probably time to get up there and at least inspect, and probably clean, the flue. W/o the screen, it can be hard to tell things might be getting bad. But I do agree those little screened caps that come in the 6" caps are a little too small.

BrotherBart · Oct 6, 2009

I have always burned with open caps without screens until this season. This summer I put a couple of caps on that look like the one in Pen's picture except that they are made for liners. I may have tossed over two hundred bucks down a rat hole but I have wanted a couple of those things for four years.

madison · Oct 6, 2009

Tin snips and open it up a bit? OR shot gun to really get 'er dun

BrotherBart · Oct 6, 2009

madison said:
Tin snips and open it up a bit? OR shot gun to really get 'er dun

My main floor chimney never had a cap of any kind on it for 21 years and water never made it down to the slammer insert. If it had there would have been rust on it and there never was. But for piece of mind get one of those mesh caps and cut a square out of the wide sides. It is pretty stout stuff so it won't collapse. Especially if you leave the ends intact and part of it around the corners.

apples439 · Oct 6, 2009

Agreed. Cut it.

blades · Oct 6, 2009

Around here they call the mesh a spark arrestor ( I got a couple other names for it that are un-printable in public forum)

greythorn3 · Oct 6, 2009

BrotherBart said:
madison said:

Tin snips and open it up a bit? OR shot gun to really get 'er dun

Click to expand...

My main floor chimney never had a cap of any kind on it for 21 years and water never made it down to the slammer insert. If it had there would have been rust on it and there never was. But for piece of mind get one of those mesh caps and cut a square out of the wide sides. It is pretty stout stuff so it won't collapse. Especially if you leave the ends intact and part of it around the corners.

when the cresostle buiilds up around the other parts of the mesh that will help strengthen it also.

pen · Oct 6, 2009

greythorn3 said:
BrotherBart said:

madison said:

Tin snips and open it up a bit? OR shot gun to really get 'er dun

Click to expand...

My main floor chimney never had a cap of any kind on it for 21 years and water never made it down to the slammer insert. If it had there would have been rust on it and there never was. But for piece of mind get one of those mesh caps and cut a square out of the wide sides. It is pretty stout stuff so it won't collapse. Especially if you leave the ends intact and part of it around the corners.

Click to expand...

when the cresostle buiilds up around the other parts of the mesh that will help strengthen it also.

LOL, exactly!

My point was I don't mind spending 40 bucks for a cap but don't like the idea of spending 40 bucks to cut up a cap. I was hoping to buy one that was what I was looking for already.

Perhaps I'll see if our local school's metal shop has a student looking for a project.

BB: This chimney definately takes on water. I just opened the chimney up 2 weeks ago and swept it. Came back (now 2 weeks later) to change the pipe going through the thimble and there is standing water in the bottom of the chimney.

Thanks for the advice

pen

BrotherBart · Oct 6, 2009

pen said:
My point was I don't mind spending 40 bucks for a cap but don't like the idea of spending 40 bucks to cut up a cap. I was hoping to buy one that was what I was looking for already.

Don't think you are gonna find it. The only ones I have ever seen for open tile chimneys all had mesh in them and I have looked at too freakin many caps over the years online and off.

I hear you about altering something you paid for. If mine crap up I am going to be cutting holes in caps that cost me a hundred and twenty bucks apiece. :ahhh:

theheatelement · Oct 6, 2009

One suggestion would be for a flu tile cover with a raincap round on top....

BrotherBart · Oct 7, 2009

MagnaFlex said:
One suggestion would be for a flu tile cover with a raincap round on top....

And he would find this where?

theheatelement · Oct 7, 2009

Any good hearth dealer can order it... We don't see a bunch of them anymore because normally the installer just snips the flashing plate and installs it... I would to sell more of them each year but it's all about the consumer... And I try my best to do for them what is best...

BrotherBart said:
MagnaFlex said:

One suggestion would be for a flu tile cover with a raincap round on top....

Click to expand...

And he would find this where?

Detector$ · Oct 7, 2009

I bought mine from www.whitecaps.com ... tell them what you want and they'll custom make. But they don't sell to the public...

pen · Oct 7, 2009

Detector$ said:
I bought mine from www.whitecaps.com ... tell them what you want and they'll custom make. But they don't sell to the public...

I most likely fall into the category of "public"

Public-enemy # 1 perhaps, but public regardless

pen

BrotherBart · Oct 7, 2009

Get Granny a regular cap and snip it. It'll be fine.

Especially since her devoted grandson will be over there checking on her any way. Helping grandparents is most satisfying thing you will ever do in your life.

pen · Oct 7, 2009

Thank you all for the advice. I'll let you know what I end up deciding to do.

pen

drumbum · Oct 7, 2009

For a square clay liner, get a leymance lock top. Open and close from the fire box.

Where to Find an Open Style Chimney Cap

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