Hey everyone! I am an occasional burner (3-4x per week from November-April) of a Lopi wood flush insert. A few days ago, I heard a rattling just above the baffle of my stove consistent with an animal. After about 18 hours the animal wrangled itself passed the baffle and down into the fire box. It was a bird, heavily injured. We were able to remove it and bring it to an animal hospital.
This is the first time in the four years we've lived in this house that an animal has come into our stove. We have two chimneys on our house - the one with the stove has a small pipe top above the chimney with a rain guard, but no animal guard. Our other chimney, which vents natural gas for our furnace and water heater, does have an animal guard. Our chimney sweep recommended getting an animal guard for our wood stove chimney, but he said that he'd have to remove the pipe and install a standard animal guard and rain guard, like my other chimney has.
My question is: Is there a reason that the previous homeowner has the small pipe coming out of the chimney installed for the wood stove, and without an animal guard? If I removed that and put on a traditional animal guard and rain guard would that be an issue? I am a bit of a newbie at this, especially when it comes to the chimney itself. Let me know if you think I should leave it the way it is and hope no other animals come in, have the chimney sweep install the traditional cover, or some other solution? I have added pictures by the way for your reference.
EDIT: It may look like from the picture that my wood stove chimney is very short, it's just the angle. It's being partially blocked by the top of the roof.
Thank you all!
This is the first time in the four years we've lived in this house that an animal has come into our stove. We have two chimneys on our house - the one with the stove has a small pipe top above the chimney with a rain guard, but no animal guard. Our other chimney, which vents natural gas for our furnace and water heater, does have an animal guard. Our chimney sweep recommended getting an animal guard for our wood stove chimney, but he said that he'd have to remove the pipe and install a standard animal guard and rain guard, like my other chimney has.
My question is: Is there a reason that the previous homeowner has the small pipe coming out of the chimney installed for the wood stove, and without an animal guard? If I removed that and put on a traditional animal guard and rain guard would that be an issue? I am a bit of a newbie at this, especially when it comes to the chimney itself. Let me know if you think I should leave it the way it is and hope no other animals come in, have the chimney sweep install the traditional cover, or some other solution? I have added pictures by the way for your reference.
EDIT: It may look like from the picture that my wood stove chimney is very short, it's just the angle. It's being partially blocked by the top of the roof.
Thank you all!
