Expert: James Ball - 12/30/2008

Question
I'm looking to buy a property in Maine.  The basement has a wood heater for HWBB heat and an oil furnace for the same purpose.  The kitchen has an old wood burning stove.  All three sources vent to the same flue and the chimney that comes out of the roof is maybe about 15" X 15".  Can the two wood burners use one flue and the oil another?  I Know that it needs at least one more flue, possibly two more.  Do you think it's possible to run 3 flues in this one chimney?  If not, then what are my alternatives?  Thanks for your time.
Dennis

Answer
Hello Dennis, I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have. each unit should be in it's own flue. You can not mix liquid (oil) and  Solid (wood) in the same flue.
as far as your alternatives, hard to say with out seeing the set up. You might be able to reline the flue you have for 2 units and run a class A Chimney up the out side of the house. the certified sweep will be able to give you a much better direction.
James