Burning topless

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ikessky

ikessky

Minister of Fire
Sep 2, 2008
862
Northern WI
Yep, that's right. I'm thinking about burning topless.

My current run-of-the-mill chimney cap seems to be getting me again. I cleaned the chimney the other week (mainly soot up to maybe the top foot or so) and noticed that when the moisture and dirties condense on the cap and then drip off onto my chimney crown or down onto my shingles. It looks like it's actually starting to eat away at the crown a little. Before this turns into an issue, I think I need to do something to head it off. If I remove the cap, then there will be nowhere for the crap to form. However, I don't have a clean out with my liner set up. I have to remove the stove pipe and reach in from there. Being that I'm burning 24/7, I don't really feel like I'll get any snow or anything in the liner. Once heating season is done for me, I'll throw the cap on to keep any rain out.

Does anyone see this as a bad plan or does this sound OK?
 
Good attention getter with the thread name.......sure you will get a lot of hits. I am curious as well about taking the cap off. Sometimes ours gets a little icky but when we inspect or clean it has nothing much in it even at the top. I have read here that some people take the cap off, but being a newbie I would not do it until I get the expert's opinions, but you a a master of fire so in my opinon you are an expert. I am not so daring with the woodburning thing yet. I look forward to reading all the replies.
 
I do not have a chimney cap. it works fine so far.
 
Since your burning 24/7 I don't see a problem burning topless. Probably improve draft some as well.
 
I need to figure out a way to make it look a little more like an authentic chimney then. I wonder if I can find a spare piece of clay flue and set it over-around where the pipe comes out.
 
how can anyone in their right mind be against burning topless?
 
ikessky said:
I need to figure out a way to make it look a little more like an authentic chimney then. I wonder if I can find a spare piece of clay flue and set it over-around where the pipe comes out.
Click to expand...
We do that will almost all of our liner jobs. Use a partial section of tile on the top to make it look like a true masonry construction then attach our chimney caps to the tile. This way we can use a bigger cap and it looks better than the ugly round caps that go w/ the liners.
 
Have done it for yrs. I even went as far as to bag the bottom of my chimney in the off season so no water could go into the stove.
 
Assuming your chimney is clay lined, running without a cap can create expensive issues over the long haul. Rain and moisture in chimneys can do damage after several years, washing away mortar joints etc. You might have better luck leaving the cap on and protecting the crown with a product like Crown Coat by Saver Systems.
 
I wouldn't try it down here.......you'll end up with sunburn :coolgrin:
 
Still waiting for pictures...
 
Iam not very familiar with Adios....But from what I have heard on this forum I think I would dig him. He sounds like a lot of fun. I just brought one of his threads back in the picture forum, I had to post pics of Freeway, even if he's not a dog, thought everyone might like meeting him.
 
I sent an email to Meagan Fox telling her she should try burning topless at our showroom. Let me tell you, that young lady has no sense of humor. Neither do her bodyguards.
 
Dune said:
Still waiting for pictures...
Click to expand...
At this point in the winter, it would look like a Yeti is loading the stove! But hey, if chunky white dudes are your thing, I'd be happy to post a picture! :p My wife might ask questions of why she's taking the picture of me though.......
 
ikessky said:
Dune said:
Still waiting for pictures...
Click to expand...
At this point in the winter, it would look like a Yeti is loading the stove! But hey, if chunky white dudes are your thing, I'd be happy to post a picture! :p My wife might ask questions of why she's taking the picture of me though.......
Click to expand...

The truth is always simplest. Tell her it's for your internet buddies on that site that you hang out on so much because they asked for it. She'll understand.
 
I'm already getting yelled at for how much time I spend with the furnace, cutting firewood, and on this forum. Posting half naked pictures of myself may push her over the edge! But if the people really demand it...........
 
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