Spark Arrestor?

[Gareth96]

Are spark arrestors recommended in all situations? I'll be using a BK Princess, chimney about 20' off ground, and about 75 yards from nearest woods. Asphalt shingles..

Was planning on using the ICC deluxe rain cap..

 

[begreen]

They also act as summer bird screens if that is an issue in your area.

 

[Gareth96]

That D-luxe rain cap has pretty small gaps around it, so don't think I'm worried about birds. More wodering if it's needed to keep embers off the roof. Or is it one of those good-to-have items just in case?

 

[Highbeam]

I bought my simpson chimney cap without a screen to be used above my princess and a comp roof with woods about 75 yards away. I have two screenless chimney caps and have never had a bird come down the flue. The screen is not there to help, in fact it can only hurt, stove performance. It is there to prevent fires. How many centuries have we had open top masonry chimneys? I feel the risk is extremely low of starting a fire on your roof or from a floating ember. The modern woodstove does not allow much chance for floatables to make it to the cap.

You have to decide if you can tolerate the risk. See if your insurance company requires it or if your AHJ requires it.

 

[bholler]

Well we install many wit out screens but we have started putting them on most because the damn starlings here like to make nests in chimneys by dropping stuff down it until it hangs up and they can make a nest at the top. It is a real problem in some areas.

 

[fire_man]

They also act as summer bird screens if that is an issue in your area.

We met 3 little brown bats up close and personal. The flue cap/screen put an end to their visits.

 

[Gareth96]

Hummm.. maybe put a spark arrestor up during the off season..

 

[bholler]

then it would just be a screen no sparks to arrest lol. Some areas require spark arresters near us especially properties that back up to a state park.

 

[Hogwildz]

Put a screen with 1/2" to 3/4" openings, and burn dry wood properly, and you won't have any problems with performance.

 

[chemical_man]

They also act as summer bird screens if that is an issue in your area.

My brother-in-law's installer put a cap on without a screen. The cousins were playing in the basement and after a while they came up claiming that there was a ghost down there. Of course, we brush it off, there are no ghosts here. They came back a while later with the same story, we go down and after 10 minutes we heard their ghost. It was coming from the stove, he opens it and a bird flies out! We managed to get it outside. It happened a second time, there is now a screen up there.