Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - chimney cap

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dkirk
11-29-08, 12:08 PM
I have been looking at chimney caps for my masonry chimney for the coal stove. I have found out that the cap can 1) help provide more draft and 2) hurt the draft. What is up with this?


marksr
11-29-08, 04:53 PM
I have a coal stove that I mostly burn wood in. I have a 7" flue. The reason I put a cap on mine was because of the occasional gust of wind that would force smoke back down the chimney [just for a second] The cap has prevented that from reoccuring :thumbup:

Coal is pretty dirty and the problem you might run into is plugging up the screen on the sides of the cap. Mine always needs cleaning everytime I clean the chimney. If I was to start burning all coal, I suspect the screen might need cleaning every month, maybe sooner.

To answer your question, I suspect the draft is better when clean but when it gets dirty it will be worse.