Holy Smoke this looks bad...

[Jim Post]

I noticed my chimney cap looks pretty dirty after this past heating season. I don't know anyone around here that has a gassifier so I thought I would post a pic of my chimney cap and ask if this is typical.

How does this compare to your chimney cap...just curious. Post a photo if you have one.

jp

 

[webbie]

Does not look bad at all to me - if your unit shuts down to idle mode some of the time, then some buildup is to be expected. Cleaning the cap and pipe at least once a year would be normal even for an efficient unit like your Tarm.

 

[antos_ketcham]

From the picture - this looks pretty clean to me. That said, I had a cap on my greenwood and it not only plugged up but it noticeably reduced my draft and therefore contributed to the clogging of the cap. So off it has come and the system runs a lot better. I might recommend you do the same.

Pete

 

[EricV]

Looks like the cap on my Tarm, I'd say it was fine.

 

[jebatty]

Easy to "see" if a problem. I just remove the black stove pipe between my Tarm and the insulated flue and take a gander up the flue -- very little accumulation and then only near the cap, almost clean but discolored flue all the way up. I will clean it after the end of this heating season, once a year should do it. Your cap looks great to me.