No screen

[1750]

I noticed when doing my first chimney cleaning that there is no screen at the top of the chimney. It's just a round section with an overlapping cap on it. It looks like(broken link removed to http://www.icc-rsf.com/c/iccrsf/img_db/chem_installations.img_en/full/install3_big.jpg)

Is the screen there to keep sparks from coming out, or animals from coming in? Is it a problem that there is no screen?

Also, when I lifted up on the telescoping piece, it lifted up out of the black box on the ceiling. It set back down in the same spot -- it's the piece marked "square support" in the picture above.

Is it normal that this can lift up, or does it mean something wasn't installed correctly?

Thanks in advance for any information you are willing to provide!

 

[webby3650]

Many chimney manufacturers offer the screen as an option now. Because of some people's burning practices, its likely to clog up so they make it an option.

I'm unclear what part of the system moved. If the chimney itself lifted up, it just means that the installer didn't secure it to the flashing. That's not uncommon.

 

[1750]

Thanks for your quick response, webby. I'm going to assume not having a screen is ok.

The part that moved was the bulbous part that mates to the round hole in the black box in the ceiling. When I was trying to slide the telescoping piece up, the whole chimney lifted and then set back down into the center. It looks like maybe it's designed to self-center into that space?

 

[webby3650]

Is it Excel chimney?

 

[1750]

Is it Excel chimney?

I think maybe it's Selkirk. But I'm not at the house so can't look to be sure.

It all came from Menards, and I think Selkirk is their primary line.

 

[webby3650]

If its from menards its Selkirk super-vent.
If you have the square box, the pipe has a clamp on it that prevents the pipe from slipping through the box. The clamp supports all the weight of the chimney. I always put some sheet metal screws through the flashing and into the outer wall of the pipe. This not only adds support at the top but prevents the chimney from being able to be lifted.

 

[Nick Mystic]

Regarding your question about the screen it functions to keep sparks from flying out and to keep critters from coming in. I used to run my stoves without a chimney cap and had a problem with birds nesting down my chimney on top of my insert in the summer. Then I got an entire colony of bats move in. That's when I put screened caps on both my chimneys. Creosote will often build up on screens in caps, but I think it is an added safety feature in that my stove will start smoking when I open the door to reload as soon as I start getting any creosote buildup on my screen. I consider it a good early warning system that I need to be cleaning my chimney.

 

[1750]

If its from menards its Selkirk super-vent.
If you have the square box, the pipe has a clamp on it that prevents the pipe from slipping through the box. The clamp supports all the weight of the chimney. I always put some sheet metal screws through the flashing and into the outer wall of the pipe. This not only adds support at the top but prevents the chimney from being able to be lifted.

Thanks. I guess my installer didn't have your foresight! Is that flashing above the roof line such that I would still be able to do that? It's a cathedral ceiling install, so the space between the ceiling and roof deck isn't accessible now.

Regarding your question about the screen it functions to keep sparks from flying out and to keep critters from coming in. I used to run my stoves without a chimney cap and had a problem with birds nesting down my chimney on top of my insert in the summer. Then I got an entire colony of bats move in. That's when I put screened caps on both my chimneys. Creosote will often build up on screens in caps, but I think it is an added safety feature in that my stove will start smoking when I open the door to reload as soon as I start getting any creosote buildup on my screen. I consider it a good early warning system that I need to be cleaning my chimney.

Thanks, Nick. There's a cap up there, and I think it would be tough for anything to get in, though I'm sure I'll be proved wrong at some point. But, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[webby3650]

You would need to remove the storm collar to put the screws in.
If you cap was off the shelf at menards, there isn't a screen option. You would need to order one from Hart &Cooley. This one has the available screen.
http://www.hartandcooley.com/chimney-and-vent/all-fuel-class-a-chimney/tlc-chimney-system/rain-caps

 

[Highbeam]

Whether or not to have a screen is a frequently debated topic. I had a screen in one of my simpson chimney systems and it would clog up quickly with brown crunchy stuff. Only the cap. The rest of the pipe was spotless. While it is true that poor burning habits can clog a screen it is also true that the screen can clog when you're doing everything right. After a couple times climbing onto the roof and cleaning that stupid chimney filter I made the wise decision to remove the stupid screen. Sure, I could have just cut out half of the cells to make the filter coarser but I wanted it gone. We have no special law requiring a filter in my location.

I propose that the modern non-cat stroves do not create sparks that could ever make it to the cap and if they did, the screen wouldn't stop them anyway. At best, the screen is a critter filter.

For whatever reason I have never had any animal or insect try and fly down my chimney. I installed a second simpson chimney system last year and this one came without a screen. Unless you have animal problems, leave it off.

 

[1750]

Thanks for that, HB. As this involves me doing nothing, it's probably more likely to happen anyway.

 

[JayD]

I use a Selkirk cap with no screen and have had a few birds now and then, A screen is a pain in the butt, So i put a few wraps or wire around it about 1/2" apart works great! No birds and don't worry about a screen plugin-up. Jay

 

[Heatsource]

a screen doesn't stop sparks(funny they call it a spark arrestor- i dont see many 1/2" sparks), it stops large chunks of burning soot from being ejected onto your roof in the event of a chimney fire.

Some areas require the screen for fire safety.... our states dept of forestry requires one on any solid fuel device or fireplace

 

[Highbeam]

I think we need some youtube videos of chimney fires to see these spurts of burning soot.

 

[fossil]

Screens are required here because of the ever-present danger of wildfires. (In fact right now we have a fire just a couple miles west of the city that has consumed 6800 acres and is only partially contained). I have screens on both of my stoves' chimneys, and I've never had any problem with either of them becoming plugged. The added bonus is excluding curious critters. Rick

 

[begreen]

a screen doesn't stop sparks(funny they call it a spark arrestor- i dont see many 1/2" sparks), it stops large chunks of burning soot from being ejected onto your roof in the event of a chimney fire.

Some areas require the screen for fire safety.... our states dept of forestry requires one on any solid fuel device or fireplace

When the landscape is tinder dry like it is in most of the west it doesn't take much to set brush on fire. I know you are not supposed to do it, but some people still use their stoves as trash burners. Folks that burn newspaper and cardboard can have a lot of floating embers coming out of the chimney. A screen is at least some barrier against bad habits.

 

[bholler]

in our area we use screens allot because the damn starlings have started dropping stuff down the chimney untill it hangs up or they fill it and then they make a nest right under the cap. It gives them a nice little roof. Some areas they do it some they don't. For old stoves we try to leave off the screen but in some areas we need to put them on. There are also areas mainly near state forest that require spark arrestors but at least here that is a smaller screen not the 3/4" expanded metal we usually use.

 

[JayD]

a screen doesn't stop sparks(funny they call it a spark arrestor- i dont see many 1/2" sparks), it stops large chunks of burning soot from being ejected onto your roof in the event of a chimney fire.
Some areas require the screen for fire safety.... our states dept of forestry requires one on any solid fuel device or fireplace

HA HA! Your in California the cazy insane state! Give it a few years and you won't be able to even have a wood stove. They Ban everything there, Can you even BBQ with charcoal? When I was there, I could not believe what I could not buy because they ban everything,That whole state needs to fall in the ocean. Sorry Just my 2 cents! Jay

 

[Highbeam]

HA HA! Your in California the cazy insane state! Give it a few years and you won't be able to even have a wood stove. They Ban everything there, Can you even BBQ with charcoal? When I was there, I could not believe what I could not buy because they ban everything,That whole state needs to fall in the ocean. Sorry Just my 2 cents! Jay

Unfortunately, that state has a lot of good things to offer. They did bugger it up pretty badly though.

 

[danimal1968]

HA HA! Your in California the cazy insane state! Give it a few years and you won't be able to even have a wood stove. They Ban everything there, Can you even BBQ with charcoal? When I was there, I could not believe what I could not buy because they ban everything,That whole state needs to fall in the ocean. Sorry Just my 2 cents! Jay

I have been various places in my life that I didn't like. My solution to that was not to go to those places anymore. I confess that it didn't even occur to me to wish that those places be utterly destroyed.

Exactly who is crazy?

 

[begreen]

Northern California is still a great place. It's an interesting state with a very diverse population. I've never lived there but enjoy trips there for the scenery, wine, and coastal beauty.

 

[Highbeam]

Rather than destroy the state, lets just plan on visiting so that we aren't encumbered by their stupid laws. We can then return home and appreciate the freedoms of our home state. The last thing i am thinking about while watching California girls play beach volleyball is whether or not my Washington home's chimney has a screen.

 

[begreen]

Seems like that's a wrap.