Vaccu-Stack vs Monsoon Cap

[senorFrog]

I've read good things re Vaccu-Stack here. Got a strong reccomendation against them from a local installer. He recommended Monsoon Cap instead. Anyone have an opinion either way?

 

[Shane]

What problems are you having? I've never heard of a monsoon cap, the vacu stack is quite effective at preventing wind related downdrafts though.

 

[senorFrog]

I have some wind related draft problems. I'm going to add some height to flue and go with a wind beater type cap. Just trying to figure out which is the best. This guy had a very strong negative opinion of the Vaccu-Stack. I'll have to find out why when I get some face time with him.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

Monsoons look ok, i have never heard of them either, but they dont look bad.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6008070902&category=20594

 

[Sandor]

I have personally used the Vacu-Stak and it solved my wind related backdraft problem, and it was a big problem.

Would highly recomend it. But then again, you will not know whether it works in your application until you try it.

 

[webbie]

Fact is, a study I have from the Canadian Government shows that regular chimney caps and the type also used on class A, etc. actually outperform many of the wind caps!

For certain constant wind, I think those directional caps with the vanes on top of them might work pretty well - speaking about seashore and similar applications. But, in most cases, the problem is elsewhere and can be addressed by raising chimney, cutting back trees, installing a regular caps, etc.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

isnt that the truth craig. I live in a place that regualry recieves hurricane force gusts. I have the good ole simpson cap, and when it blows the stove glows brighter. I have not ONCE had wind blow down my chimney.

 

[Sandor]

Fact is, a study I have from the Canadian Government shows that regular chimney caps and the type also used on class A, etc. actually outperform many of the wind caps!

For certain constant wind, I think those directional caps with the vanes on top of them might work pretty well - speaking about seashore and similar applications. But, in most cases, the problem is elsewhere and can be addressed by raising chimney, cutting back trees, installing a regular caps, etc.

Being on a bare side of a Mountain in WV, I did not have alot of choices. I tried the Vacu-Stak out of desperation and it worked great.
Being in the mountains, the wind would whip from multiple directions. I had a regular chimney cap, raised, lowered and tried everything to no avail.

After the Vacu-Stak was installed, the harder the wind blew, the brighter the fire got!

I think the key for me was, is that there was not a constant wind from the same direction.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

Fact is, a study I have from the Canadian Government shows that regular chimney caps and the type also used on class A, etc. actually outperform many of the wind caps!

For certain constant wind, I think those directional caps with the vanes on top of them might work pretty well - speaking about seashore and similar applications. But, in most cases, the problem is elsewhere and can be addressed by raising chimney, cutting back trees, installing a regular caps, etc.

Being on a bare side of a Mountain in WV, I did not have alot of choices. I tried the Vacu-Stak out of desperation and it worked great.
Being in the mountains, the wind would whip from multiple directions. I had a regular chimney cap, raised, lowered and tried everything to no avail.

After the Vacu-Stak was installed, the harder the wind blew, the brighter the fire got!

I think the key for me was, is that there was not a constant wind from the same direction.

or a 24' chimney with no obstructions works too.
if you cant get a chimney that long, then the cure is the vacu stack and others. like craig said, they actually impeade draft when its not windy. The monsoon looks intresting, i wish i could see one close up.