Chimney cap with wire screen?

[Tron]

I guess we'll really need to get a chimney cap with a screen. Those Eastern Bluebirds used to only come in through the chimney during the spring, but now we've already had the 2nd in the fall.
A 3/4" screen would probably keep them out but wouldn't get clogged with creosote, right?
The current cap is a Duravent cap, very likely this one although our invoice doesn't specify, which one exactly:

 

[begreen]

The Duravent cap screen is fairly fine meshed. You might want to change it to a coarser stainless screen that will still do a good job of keeping the birds out. Maybe 3/4" mesh?

 

[Tron]

That's what I'm thinking, yes. I haven't been able to reliably find out what this Duravent's cap screen mesh size is. Some say 1/2", some say 3/4". And their web contact form is broken...

Next problem would be to get someone to install it. The chimney cap is a good 8' above where it transitions the roof, so one would probably need to take down the top section to change the cap.

 

[begreen]

Ours was 1/2", but the wire diameter shrinks the mesh openings to a bit less than 1/2".

 

[Tron]

Ours was 1/2", but the wire diameter shrinks the mesh openings to a bit less than 1/2".

any issues with creosote clogging on that?

 

[begreen]

any issues with creosote clogging on that?

Only when I had an unexpected damp run of fuel.

 

[Tron]

Thanks!
My fuel is so bone-dry, that's rather an academical worry.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

@Tron, I heartily support screened caps in Eastern Bluebird country. I don't know why they are so attracted to chimneys, but they certainly are. I'm very glad for our screen. I'm afraid I don't know what size it is, but I've seen bluebirds make a determined attack on it, and it hasn't ever clogged with creosote on our Blaze King. We've only owned the stove for two winters, though. When we did our last chimney cleaning, I scraped more creosote out from behind the wall shields and above the tubes using a brush than I got soot out of the very long chimney. We burn low most of the time because of our well-insulated house.

 

[Tron]

@DuaeGuttae thank you very much for the insight. Could you perhaps find out which chimney cap you have?
And I absolutely agree with you, it's only the Eastern Bluebirds that find their way into our stove, no other species.
No idea what drives them to do that...

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I had the same problem with sparrows years ago. I just went to the hardware store and bought hardware cloth. It comes in different sizes, but you cut it to size and wrap around the cap. I took the top cover off of mine. It was removable and wrapped it and it was fine. Cost less than $5 for the hardware cloth. Some hardware stores will cut you what you want and charge you a small charge for it.

I use the same hardware cloth to keep the rabbits out of my garden.

 

[DuaeGuttae]

@DuaeGuttae thank you very much for the insight. Could you perhaps find out which chimney cap you have?
And I absolutely agree with you, it's only the Eastern Bluebirds that find their way into our stove, no other species.
No idea what drives them to do that...

Off the top of my head, I think it's Excel brand rain cap with a "standard" screen added to it. I believe that means 3/4" mesh. It's not a spark arrestor but a wildlife shield. I did have a specific conversation with the installer about it, but that was two and a half years ago now. I'm afraid I'm not on the computer where the house build files are located right now, and I'm not sure if that detail is even included in the paperwork. I can try to get to it later if you'd like me to investigate more.

@Burnin Since 1991 , I had thought about just suggesting adding a hardware cloth wrap to the cap. What I wasn't sure about was how secure it would be added to a cap after the fact if one cleans it from below with a rotary cleaner. How do you clean your pipe and cap, Burnin Since 1991?

@Tron, do you use a Sooteater? I seem to recall that, but I'm not sure.