Windy Last Night!

[kwburn]

wow, it was really windy last night. we had both stoves going and at one point i got a good whiff of smoke which freaked me out. i easily narrowed it down to our intrepid which was dampered down pretty good and burning low but appeared ok. the smell went away and then i smelled it again a while later. this time it was driving me crazy so i went over and camped out in front of the stove staring at the fire.

took a while but all of a sudden i heard a huge gust of wind outside and then 'poof' the fire went pretty much dark for about 2 seconds. it then reignited with a flash and i saw a puff of smoke shoot out around the edges of the top load door. source of smell discovered. i opened the air a bit more to increase the fire and draft and didn't have much of a problem with it the rest of the night.

 

[moondoggy]

yea it was howling there a few times. i was waiting for something like that but saw/smelled nothing. but i also was burning wide open
i like to think that the cap has a lot to do with it also. my cap has a surround that i would think can help lessen the chances of that...
(broken link removed to http://www.chimneylinerdepot.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=251)

 

[kwburn]

yeah, i'm a loser without chimney caps so i deserve it i suppose. my chimneys are just really dangerous to get to (steep roof lines) or i would install them myself. i had a chimney sweep offer to do them 11 years ago when we moved in for probably $100 a piece and i should have taken him up on it. my chimneys are 25 and 30 feet each so generally the wind is not a problem but it would be a value to keep the rain out as well. i have to sweep them from below which is also a hassle. the flex in 30 feet of fiberglass rods takes all the strength i have to move the brush.

 

[moondoggy]

you really should get a cap. but at twice my height, i dont blame you for not doing it yourself. my single story chimney is chest height in the middle of my roof, the only reason i was able to do it.
no way i'm getting up 25-30ft.
you dont need an expert, just a handy someone whos not a total height-wuss like you and me.