Leaking Insert

[Marcus]

Water is leaking down my liner and into the insert whenever it rains. I am having difficulty dealing with the installer. Attatched is a photo of the chimney. The liner is a Magnaflex SS liner and it is supposed to have a raincap. Is this considered a rain cap that is on the top? It does not look like any raincaps I have seen in photos.

 

[webbie]

It looks tilted a bit, which does not help! Also, it is so close to that other flue I would worry about smoke crossover!

It is a raincap, but I think the tilting is screwing it up. Water getting on the bottom ring should usually run off in all directions - instead, it is running in.

Personally, I would want to see that thing run higher up......

If you want it to look good and are handy, you could replace it with a Proper Topper - http://www.extendaflue.com/pt.html

Or, simply add 8 inches or so of liner and reinstall the cap using a level. Then, if it still leaks, simply place a larger "hat" on top of the cap (a ring of stainless or copper).

I have a circle shear and could cut one for you if it came to it.

 

[Marcus]

Thanks Craig. The photo is kind of deceptive because it was taken from the ground looking up with a 400mm telephoto lens. It comes up above the actual chimney at least a foot and there is actually a good 2 feet between it and the other flue. I also think the angle is from the angle of the photo, but I will get up there and check for sure. The Proper Topper looks nice, but is quite pricey.

 

[webbie]

Thanks Craig. The photo is kind of deceptive because it was taken from the ground looking up with a 400mm telephoto lens. It comes up above the actual chimney at least a foot and there is actually a good 2 feet between it and the other flue. I also think the angle is from the angle of the photo, but I will get up there and check for sure. The Proper Topper looks nice, but is quite pricey.

If you find out that it is level and well above the other, than here are suggestions.....

1. A larger top as I mentioned - just screw or rivet it down to the existing cap. This will provide more overhang and keep the rain out.
2. It would seem that the bottom ring of the cap should have drain holes in it......or that it should slope outwards 360 degrees around...check it.
3. You could put a different brand cap with better rain defection

 

[Roospike]

Looks like a wall? next to the cap ....... If you have anything too close to your rain cap you can get splatter of the other objects and goes into the cap.

 

[Corey]

I guess a couple of big questions are how much water and how much rain. If you are getting huge puddles during even light rains, then that is definitely a problem. A few drops during a torrential downpour with high winds would almost be expected.

One thing I notice in looking at that cap would be to make sure the bottom plate is shaped like an umbrella instead of a bowl. It looks fairly thin and if it was bent upward during shipping or installation, it may be funneling water right into the flue.

Corey

 

[BrotherBart]

I got that same cap with one of my liner kits. It does let too much water in when the rain is heavy. Because of the way I pieced together a storm collar and fitted the neck of the cap over the outside of it, the water in mine runs down the outside of the storm collar instead of into the liner.

With yours the answer is probably a different cap. One of the ones with a cone shaped top.

 

[theheatelement]

That cap is not a MagnaFlex product and most likely does not mate up properly to our liners, ask your chimney professional about getting one of our deluxe rain caps or try using one of those extenda caps and that should solve your problems.