13134 Stainless Steel Flue Stretcher 13" x 13" Stainless Steel 2ft. Flue Stretcher

I purchased this this Stainless Steel Flue Stretcher because I had a new outdoor fireplace on my covered patio built that had a "smoking" problem due to it's location in relation to the rest of my house. I had a very short cap from the same company installed just to keep rain out, but it did nothing for the smoking problem. When I studied the problem a bit on a chilly evening I noticed that smoke was literally collecting around the short cap, not really drawing much at all. The airstream over my house seems to be a bit higher and seemed to create an area of low pressure of sorts below where the cap was located. I ordered this cap to try and push the exhaust from the fireplace into the airstream over the top of the house. I can tell you it is a very well made piece of hardware, very sturdy built, good materials and it's fairly easy to install. I would recommend that you use 100% silicone sealant (I used GE brand) very heavy and neatly around the base. I suspect over time and wind gusts the mounting screws of this unit could loosen and it might get blown off, the silicone will prevent it from moving even if the screws loosen. This is my solution, you can determine your own. By the way, the silicone on the outside is not subjected to any heat, I tested this, after the fireplace had been going for a few hours the outside of the flue stretch near the base was just lukewarm and so was the silicone. One last thing, I guess I did not mention that indeed the flue stetcher solved about 90% of my "smoking" issues, the other 9% or so I resolved with a "Grate Wall of Fire" fire grate which forced the heat right up the back of the fireplace and up the chimney almost creating a suction. I will never get 100% for an outdoor fireplace, but I think it's pretty good now. Finally, for those with a similar problem as mine, I would recommend this product, with the caveats I mentioned above.

It works perfectly. However, I would have preferred that it fit entirely over the ceramic flue as shown in the photo. The stretcher base opening was about a 1/2" too small to do this. Instead it sits son top of the flue. It was easy to secure with the screws provided though, and it works effectively.

We bought a 2' 13X13 Gelco Stainless Steel Flue Stretcher. The base on this item is actually 15X15 requiring nearly the full length of the retaining screws to be used inside the band to hold the unit in place on a 12X12 flue liner. The lower band is too weak to keep the screws straight and maintain the integrity of the mounting system during high winds. Even with the mounting screws tightened wrench-tight, a wind gust of 45mph easily blew it off our chimney, damaging the roof and destroying the cap.Be aware that this cap is NOT WARRANTED by either the seller or Gelco. If it blows off your chimney flue, it is entirely your fault and your responsibility. It is your loss.

This is a nice piece. Should have a role or break in the metal because it oil-cans when the wind blows on it and it is hot from a fire