Plugged Stove Pipe Screen

[Sawset]

I thought I'd mention something that I found useful today. After several years of cleaning the chimney the usual way, with a 6inch nylon brush and brush rods pushed from below, I realized that the screen at the top is in no way being cleaned and cleared. Maybe the brush is now worn slightly, more so than when new, and that's the reason? I could always push the brush to the end and get most of it, but not this time. Oh what to do. The cap is 30ft off the ground, plugged almost solid, the brushes ain't cutting it, it's 7deg outside with a 30mph wind. I'm not going outside. So I thought a moment, and decided: drill a small hole in the end of one of the push rods, press in a piece of wire with a length just under the chimney diameter, run it up to the top and rattle it around a little. Nice and clear now, no climbing, and from now on I'll keep it as part of the standard cleaning. Maybe there is a better way, I'd love to hear about it. (The hardware store may have high tensile wire rod, small dia, something that won't bend into a pretzel like mild steel wire, but yet if if gets hung up, a slight pull and it's back down.)

 

[webby3650]

I would remove the entire 4' section above the roof brace so I could get that cap down and remove the screen.Dura-vent quit putting the mesh in their caps a few years back because of this issue.

 

[kuma.jason]

I would remove the entire 4' section above the roof brace so I could get that cap down and remove the screen.Dura-vent quit putting the mesh in their caps a few years back because of this issue.

Agree. That screen needs to go.

Growing up I remember my dad throwing a football at the chimney cap to try and knock stuff loose. Your method looks better though. [emoji3]

 

[Oldman47]

Agree. That screen needs to go.

Growing up I remember my dad throwing a football at the chimney cap to try and knock stuff loose. Your method looks better though. [emoji3]

Kumastoves, if you are going to go with impact, upgrade to a pellet rifle. It is far more accurate than most people can throw.

 

[kuma.jason]

Actually, my dad used that method too, I just didn't want to encourage shooting at chimneys, lol.

 

[Hogwildz]

You can also put a larger opening screen in.
I find it hard to believe I am the only one who doesn't have screen clogging problems. And I have a DuraVent cap.
Kind of surprised to see a manufacturer recommending to remove a screen.

I think I remember a few members having luck cleaning the cap & screen with the sooteater.

 

[webby3650]

You can also put a larger opening screen in.
I find it hard to believe I am the only one who doesn't have screen clogging problems. And I have a DuraVent cap.
Kind of surprised to see a manufacturer recommending to remove a screen.

I think I remember a few members having luck cleaning the cap & screen with the sooteater.

They didn't recommend removing it. They quit manufacturing it with the screen entirely.

 

[Beer Belly]

I think I remember a few members having luck cleaning the cap & screen with the sooteater.

+1

 

[xman23]

I would remove the entire 4' section above the roof brace so I could get that cap down and remove the screen.Dura-vent quit putting the mesh in their caps a few years back because of this issue.

So they have no screen at all? Something many of us have done, because they are so hard to keep clean. There is no code that would require a screen?

 

[begreen]

There may or may not be locally. Check. Remember to cover up or screen the cap in spring if you have birds, bats or bees that like to nest in the flue.

 

[Creekheat]

I just installed dura vent and it came with a screen from the manufacturer. It's heavy gauge with about 1/2" grid. Keeps out birds, large insects and debris I suppose.

 

[Hogwildz]

They didn't recommend removing it. They quit manufacturing it with the screen entirely.

Was not referring to DuaVent webby.

 

[kuma.jason]

Was not referring to DuaVent webby.

I recommended the screen removal based on three things...

1. 9/10 of screened caps cause problems. And, IMO, create more hazard that they prevent.

2. At least here, every building dept. only requires a screen for manufactured homes. For the record, I would not recommend removing a screen in that type of install.

3. For at least a few years now, the Duravent caps have come without the screen.

Just my point of view though. Everyone will have their own [emoji3]

Jason

 

[webby3650]

I just installed dura vent and it came with a screen from the manufacturer. It's heavy gauge with about 1/2" grid. Keeps out birds, large insects and debris I suppose.

You must be using Dura-Plus from Dura-Vent. Dura-Tech hasn't used a screen for quite some time.

 

[begreen]

Might have been old inventory. The last DuraTech cap I bought was a few years back. It had a screen in it. I see now that they list the screen as optional in their current catalog.