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Question
Hi,15 years ago, when my husband and I built this house,we installed a zero-clearance fireplace insert.It has come in really handy in the winter since we live in the country and sometimes lose our electricity.On May 8th of this year, we had a horrific storm with 90 to 100 mile mph straight-line winds. All we found of our chimney cap was the very top of it at the back of our 10 acre property. Our pipe is triple wall and we bought a chimney cap we thought would work, but it doesn't even though we were told it could be used for all pipe.Am I going to have to just cover the top of the chimney, or do you think there's a possibility we may be able to find a cap to fit? I don't have the slightest idea where to start looking. The cap we just bought is from the same place we bought the one that was destroyed and they can't help us.
Karen,
Thanks for asking. The factory built fireplace you have is a listed system. The test performed for safety of the unit use only OEM parts made by the manufacture and tested as a complete system. To install a similar cap is to install a part that has not been tested for safety with your system. You should be able;e to find the listing label and name of the manufacture and model number of the fireplace. Armed with this information will greatly increase your ability for success in finding the listed cap. Due to the high winds I would recommend an NFPA-211 level II inspection be performed as well to determine if other wind related issues exist. Feel free to us the links at the bottom of my home page at www.brooks-hearth.com to find an inspector that performs these inspections. best of luck to you and your family.
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Answers by Expert:
Randy Brooks
Expertise
Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.
Experience
Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989
Ojai, CA
Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com
Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011.
CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011.
HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002.
NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.
Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710.
http://www2.cslb.ca.gov
C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11.
http://www.csia.org
F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06.
http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com
Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05
N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08.
http://nficertified.org
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