Since I have such easy access to my roof and chimney, initially I thought that here in a couple months when I stop using the stove, I should remove the rain cap and somehow obstruct the chimney opening to keep out birds and critters. I thought maybe thick plastic sheeting held in place by duct tape or bungee cords. Then, it occurred to me that ventilation may be necessary to avoid moisture collection. I will certainly give it a good cleaning at the end of the burn season as I understand stagnant ,old, soggy creosote promotes corrosion.
As far as a big piece of plastic covering the top of the chimney being an eyesore, that's not an issue. Due to the canopy of trees around my home, you can't see the chimney unless you climb up on the roof. If you stand far enough back away from the house to have the correct angle to view the chimney, the trees obstruct your view. When you get close enough to the house to get out of the canopy, the eaves of the roof obstruct your view.
So, how do you guys "summerize" your flue?
As far as a big piece of plastic covering the top of the chimney being an eyesore, that's not an issue. Due to the canopy of trees around my home, you can't see the chimney unless you climb up on the roof. If you stand far enough back away from the house to have the correct angle to view the chimney, the trees obstruct your view. When you get close enough to the house to get out of the canopy, the eaves of the roof obstruct your view.
So, how do you guys "summerize" your flue?