second opinion on my chimney

Posted by on December 15, 2008, 3:01 pm

I bought a 1925 built house last year. When we got it we had a chimney
guy come out and fix the top and check it. He re built the top of the
chimney and said we are good to go. I asked about it being lined and
he said it was fine.

This year I had another company come out with a camera. They cleaned
the chimney and ran a camera. The smoke box is just brick. Seemed like
an issue but he said it was still ok. Above that there is the original
terracotta liner (rectangular). Some places where the terracotta
section meets another there are gaps where some of the mortar is
missing. Not a hole just a depression. The largest was about the size
of my index finger, length and depth (average adult male). Meaning I
could lay my finger in the groove and it would fit perfect. Only one
of the gaps is that large and most places the grout or whatever it is
is fine.

Basically we had one guy say its fine another say its a fire hazard
and it would be $5000 to repair it.

1. How dangerous is it? Small fire risk and keep using it, or oh my
god the house is going to burn down anytime if you use it.

2. An estimate for a 4 foot smoke box and 20 foot high chimney
relining does $5000 seem high?

3. Most importantly can I use it through the holiday season? I used it
all last year and since its been cold this year.

Thanks

Posted by HVAC on December 15, 2008, 3:28 pm

> Basically we had one guy say its fine another say its a fire hazard
> and it would be $5000 to repair it.

Take the cash and get yourself a high efficiency furnace
(doesn't need to go up the chimney)

> 1. How dangerous is it? Small fire risk and keep using it, or oh my
> god the house is going to burn down anytime if you use it.

Do you have kids?
Do you love them?

> 2. An estimate for a 4 foot smoke box and 20 foot high chimney
> relining does $5000 seem high?

$5000.00 a kid? Low.
Unless they're MY kids.

> 3. Most importantly can I use it through the holiday season? I used it
> all last year and since its been cold this year.
> Thanks

Santa will clean it on the way down!

Posted by Don Ocean on December 15, 2008, 10:53 pm

HVAC wrote:

>> Basically we had one guy say its fine another say its a fire hazard
>> and it would be $5000 to repair it.

>
> Take the cash and get yourself a high efficiency furnace
> (doesn't need to go up the chimney)

I wonder if this fellow isn't inquiring about a fireplace chimney.

>
>
>

>> 1. How dangerous is it? Small fire risk and keep using it, or oh my
>> god the house is going to burn down anytime if you use it.

>
>
> Do you have kids?
> Do you love them?
>
>
>

>> 2. An estimate for a 4 foot smoke box and 20 foot high chimney
>> relining does $5000 seem high?

This price is high for a flexible Ngas liner. About right for a drawn
heavy duty poured clay liner for a fireplace. A poured clay system is
absolutely leakfree, has some flexibility with building movement and
will normally last a lifetime. You of course can get by cheaper with
clay pipe liners.. Much depends on how straight that chimney is and what
kind of a smoke shelf is involved.

>
>
>
> $5000.00 a kid? Low.
> Unless they're MY kids.
>
>

>> 3. Most importantly can I use it through the holiday season? I used it
>> all last year and since its been cold this year.
>> Thanks

>
>
>
> Santa will clean it on the way down!
>
>

Posted by Stormin Mormon on December 18, 2008, 11:04 am

Part of the money to buy a generator, and a big tank of propane. In case the
electric goes off.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

> Basically we had one guy say its fine another say its a fire hazard
> and it would be $5000 to repair it.

Take the cash and get yourself a high efficiency furnace
(doesn't need to go up the chimney)

Posted by Bubba on December 15, 2008, 6:31 pm

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:01:24 -0800 (PST), wellwood@gmail.com wrote:

>I bought a 1925 built house last year. When we got it we had a chimney
>guy come out and fix the top and check it. He re built the top of the
>chimney and said we are good to go. I asked about it being lined and
>he said it was fine.
>This year I had another company come out with a camera. They cleaned
>the chimney and ran a camera. The smoke box is just brick. Seemed like
>an issue but he said it was still ok. Above that there is the original
>terracotta liner (rectangular). Some places where the terracotta
>section meets another there are gaps where some of the mortar is
>missing. Not a hole just a depression. The largest was about the size
>of my index finger, length and depth (average adult male). Meaning I
>could lay my finger in the groove and it would fit perfect. Only one
>of the gaps is that large and most places the grout or whatever it is
>is fine.
>Basically we had one guy say its fine another say its a fire hazard
>and it would be $5000 to repair it.
>1. How dangerous is it? Small fire risk and keep using it, or oh my
>god the house is going to burn down anytime if you use it.
>2. An estimate for a 4 foot smoke box and 20 foot high chimney
>relining does $5000 seem high?
>3. Most importantly can I use it through the holiday season? I used it
>all last year and since its been cold this year.
>Thanks

Hard to tell how dangerous it is or not without seeing it. One says
its fine, other says its an expensive hazard. Why not try one more but
do some home work. Find a good one. One with references. One that has
a good BBB record or find someone from your local chimney supply shop
or a friend that has had one out.
Words like fire hazard and big dollar numbers should maybe set of a
little buzzer in your head to dig a little deaper. Go up and look with
the chimney guy. Maybe it is bad but see if he can actually show you
what the big mess is all about.
Bubba

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