Recommendations for wind resistant and bird resistant chimney cap

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vatmark

Burning Hunk
Jan 5, 2017
193
Nebo NC
I was wondering if anyone has experience with wind resistant chimney caps that also keep birds out. We've had 2 times where high wind caused some backdrafting so we would like to look into getting a wind resistant chimney cap. We also need to keep birds out. We've had 2 birds get into our wood stove. The most recent was today.

We have a Jotul F500 stove and I believe the chimney piping is 6 inches. How difficult is it to change chimney caps? I know we would have to hire someone because it is on the roof and the pipe is pretty high. We will be looking into getting someone to come out to clean the piping out for the first time. Will the chimney sweep be able to put a new cap on if we provide it for them?

Thanks!
 
I have 2 of these.

homesaver-8-inch-round-windbeater-stainless-steel-chimney-cap-47.jpg
 
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Just get a cap with a screen and wind band. Those posted above are for places with major wind problems. And they come with drawbacks mainly being a real pita to clean.
 
bholler said:
Just get a cap with a screen and wind band. Those posted above are for places with major wind problems. And they come with drawbacks mainly being a real pita to clean.
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Correct, but I have easy access to the roof top, so not an issue. If I had no easy access, I would have not chosen those. The Roman Helmet type I got because of the downward wind we have here due to the number of high trees in the area.
 
Jan Pijpelink said:
Correct, but I have easy access to the roof top, so not an issue. If I had no easy access, I would have not chosen those. The Roman Helmet type I got because of the downward wind we have here due to the number of high trees in the area.
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Yes if it happens to you all the time one of those 2 would be called for. The op only had it twice so a simple wind and should do
 
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I have the Windbeater (aka Vacu Stack or muffin top) at our place now. I’ve had the conquistador and wind band styles in the past as well. The wind really howls here at 8000’. The challenge I have with it is overdrafting. When the wind blows hard, that Venturi effect increases the draft more than I like. I may switch back to the wind band style. They’re not that hard to clean, a chisel scraper does well.
 
willoweep said:
I have the Windbeater (aka Vacu Stack or muffin top) at our place now. I’ve had the conquistador and wind band styles in the past as well. The wind really howls here at 8000’. The challenge I have with it is overdrafting. When the wind blows hard, that Venturi effect increases the draft more than I like. I may switch back to the wind band style. They’re not that hard to clean, a chisel scraper does well.
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Yes the vacustack will increase draft allot under high wind. The wind band ones clean pretty well from the bottom with a rotary cleaner. The other 2 you have to go up to clean
 
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'm torn on what to get now. Here's some background. We live in a mountain community. We've had the woodstove a full year now. We only used it a handful of times last winter and used it more often this winter. This winter the backdraftng happened twice. We can get some nasty storms here and the wind comes mainly from the north which is the side of the house where the chimney is. So would it be best to get the caps made for high winds often or just get one with wind band and bird screening? I dont even know what type of cap is up there now, we may take a visit to the place where my builder purchased the stove and chimney stuff and see what type of cap is actually up there now. Its obviously not keeping birds out.
 
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