Need Chimney Experts opinion

Rob R. wrote:Just get rid of the cap entirely. No critters want to live in a chimney with coal smoke going through it...check it in the fall before you light up.

Well, small critters live in my chimney, STINK BUGS. I burn year round and when I shut down for annual cleaning, I was surprised when the fly ash I removed from chimney clean out and put in a bucket was moving. Thought it was a snake, but it was STINK BUGS, many dozens just wiggling away. Killed them by dumping the ash out and running over it with my tractor tire. I suspect they flew in from the top and stayed because it was warm. Some were dead but most were alive!

I have never even seen a stink bug on our property, and after reading about your experience I hope they stay South of Albany!

Double ditto on the stink bugs....
I shut down in the warmer months, disconnect the flue to the thimble and seal off the thimble opening with foil. In the fall the last couple years when I remove the foil from the thimble it has been full of dozens and dozens of stink bugs. Since the cap is off the bottom of the T outside I just push them out and then head outside real quick to cap the T again before they fly back in.

I don't know where they hide, but we see them flying around inside the house all winter, 3 or 4 each week. Its real bad when they fall on top of the stoker, get cooked a bit and the smell gets moved around the house.

Nope, never seen a stink bug here on my hill either--must be you guys that live closer to DC--right where they belong!

just be patient they will be there...never had any here till last summer....down east (lancaster co. pa) they have been plauged with them for a few years...you'll love them ... dont squish them they stink...probably another import to git rid of some other bug...they sure have a way of getting into ur house during the winter...we wrap them in tissue or toilet paper and flush or creamate them in the hitzer love that stove...it not only heats goot it creamates goot...mice disappear real good to...

Rob R. wrote:I have never even seen a stink bug on our property, and after reading about your experience I hope they stay South of Albany!

We have stink bugs here also.There are no pesticides to kill them and no natural predators to kill them.They don't live or survive in cold/freezing climates.

Dennis wrote:

Rob R. wrote:I have never even seen a stink bug on our property, and after reading about your experience I hope they stay South of Albany!

We have stink bugs here also.There are no pesticides to kill them and no natural predators to kill them.They don't live or survive in cold/freezing climates.

the hell they dont !!!!!! live here in bedford county and it goes weeks that it dont get above freezing and we have them....they find a way to survive...looking out the window now and all i see is white, with brown trees sticking out of the white...

buffalo bob wrote:

Dennis wrote:

Rob R. wrote:I have never even seen a stink bug on our property, and after reading about your experience I hope they stay South of Albany!

We have stink bugs here also.There are no pesticides to kill them and no natural predators to kill them.They don't live or survive in cold/freezing climates.

the hell they dont !!!!!! live here in bedford county and it goes weeks that it dont get above freezing and we have them....they find a way to survive...looking out the window now and all i see is white, with brown trees sticking out of the white...

Your right,but you only find them inside your heated house or embedded in every knook and crack that has heat and away from/protected from the elements.

No sorry but you are wrong. These things are super bugs. The cold absolutley does not kill them. They might look dead but if you touch them they will start to move. The fact that they can survive in a coal chimney also says they are pretty damn resiliant. Only way to kill them is to smash them (DON'T DO IT!!!) or drown them in soapy water.

coalkirk wrote:No sorry but you are wrong. These things are super bugs. The cold absolutley does not kill them. They might look dead but if you touch them they will start to move. The fact that they can survive in a coal chimney also says they are pretty damn resiliant. Only way to kill them is to smash them (DON'T DO IT!!!) or drown them in soapy water.

now there is a man that knows what he is talking bout!!! dont worry they'll BE BACK...

Dennis wrote:We have stink bugs here also.There are no pesticides to kill them and no natural predators to kill them.They don't live or survive in cold/freezing climates.

Dennis, NEEM Spray will take care of stickbugs. Best of all Neem is 100% organic and non toxic to birds mamels and fish. You can find Neem concentrate at most garden centers and places like Lowes and Home Depot.

Dcrane, thanks and it sounds great but try finding someone who will do a great job as you describe....there are few craftsman left in this world.....most would rather just slap a cap up there and charge me a few hundered bucks!

Wee She's all fixed. Two new 316 stanless steel caps, spry painted aroud the outside of the top of the liner, brushed off the rust stains and cleaned out the liner.