OWB Rain Cap needed?

[fourustircom]

Hi, Folks!

My new Woodmaster 4400 apparently does not use a rain cap, those mushroom looking things I guess. The dealer said the rain would evaporate before getting to the firebox. It came with a cover that is installed when the machine is not in use.

Thoughts/Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[cedarfarms]

i agree with your dealer, but you should use the cover when the boiler is not in use.
i don't think those rain caps would last long on a boiler with the short chimney.
at times i've seen a 2 foot flame exiting the chimney while the door is open feeding wood.

 

[fourustircom]

Flames?

WOW! maybe I'll need a longer instead of a rain cap.

Thanks!

 

[Stumpcutter1]

I have a central boiler and I have 3- 4ft sections 0f stainless pipe and a raincap on it

 

[beerman6]

I put one on mine,just a cheapo from the Depot,they last about a year and a half.

 

[windthrown]

Raincaps work OK. We had the CB here w/o one for 2 seasons, and this past summer I put a rinacap/spark arrester on. W/o the rain cap I put a 5 gallon bucket on top when it was not in use in summer. Now I do not have to worry about it, or rain getting into the boiler in summer.

I think that running it w/o the rain cap will lower the efficiency of the boiler. Certainly in a place like we live in, where we typically get 60-100 inches of rain a year (60 inches so far this rain year since July 1). That is a lot of water to steam off, taking a lot of heat with it. As others here have said, they do not last that long. The CB here will shoot flames out the top of the stack if the fire gets good a hot. That corrodes the cap pretty fast. I expect this cap to last for 2 heating seasons.

 

[HUSKYMAN]

In MI you only need a cap when the boiler is not in use. My Woodmaster came with a chrome cap I saved for using during the summer when the boiler is shut down.

Next year I may add a cap when I lengthen and snake down my chimney, but it is not necessary

 

[jdboy9]

Friend of mine has this strange looking spark arrester type cap on his I think it was about 150 but it seems to work pretty well. Its a three sided thing and smoke comes out the top and bottom of these three cylinders that form a cone shape from top to bottom. I don't have a pic sorry but maybe someone else does.

 

[fourustircom]

Stack length

To clarify, my stack has a 6' extension, so I wouldn't be adding a rain/animal cap to a short stack. My pole barn is 12' at the peak and had to get over that height.

Thanks for all the responses!