Cheap Vacu-Stack Wind Resistant Chimney Cap - 8 Inches

Customer Ratings:

Our house is located with a large hill just to the North. When we get a brisk north wind, it comes down the hill and causes major backdraft problems with our woodburning stove and tall, freestanding metal chimney.

We tried many "fixes".. even spent close to a grand installing and wiring-in a Field Controls Type C chimney-top draft inducer. The Field controls unit worked okay for a while, but eventually, carbon build-up on the blades was too much for the small electric fan motor and she stopped running.

Our chimney guy suggested we try the Vacu-Stack, which we did. Hired a cherry=picker to put it on top of the stack.

Conclusion:

PRO The Vacu-Stack is a well-made unit.. stainless steel and solidly constructed. Once in place, we did see a good improvement in the operation of the stove. We did learn that in windy conditions, it is CRITICAL to crack open a window on the side of the house FROM WHICH THE WIND IS BLOWING. this helps to over-pressurize the house and helps the Vacu-Stack do its job.

CON Vacu-Stack literature indicates it is "bird-proof". It is NOT bird-proof! When we went to fireup the stove this fall, we found that sparrows had built a nest inside the Vacu-Stack and had sealed the chimney. Our only solution was to use a Viper chimney cleaning kit and go up the chimney from the bottom. We had to ram the Vacu-Stack hared enough to pop it off the stack and take the nest with it. We are now back to square one until we can get the vacu-Stack back in position. If you install a Vacu-Stack, you WILL have bird problems... so be prepared.

All in all, the best solution we have found thus far to our back-draft problems.

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We needed to replace our 15 yr. old wind resistant chimney cap and searched for the same one/kind as it is the only one that will work with our weird downdraft situations. The price was in our range so I ordered. It was a little out of shape on arrival...due to its intricate shape, but not really a problem to put back right. Delivery was timely and we are pleased with our purchase. Would recommend to others.

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we were hopeful this cap would work but still have bad issues with back draft. Also birds make their nest in the cap. Too much maintenance. Poor design