Do I really need to fix this?
​
Hi everyone,
I bought a house 7 years ago which had a stainless liner installed in the chimney. Last year I decided I wanted to actually try to use the fireplace, so bought and installed a used regency wood burning insert.
I then had a chimney company come out to inspect the whole setup and make sure I was good to burn. I also wanted a cap of some sort installed because I pulled 2 garbage bags' worth of birds nests out of the liner when I cleaned it while I installing my insert.
Well my install was ok, but they found that my chimney is actually too short. It is 15" above my roof, should be 24". The company quoted me on removing the stone cap, adding a proper top plate and a section of insulated pipe, and a cap. $750. Then they ghosted me. I suspect that they underquoted that work and then decided they didn't want to do it.
I've contacted 2 other chimney repair people who all give me a weird look when I tell them what this company recommended. Are they crazy? Do I really need to extend my chimney? Can I just set some sort of cap on and go ahead and burn next winter?