Expert: James Ball - 12/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: Mr Ball,
I just converted to gas from oil. I also added a hot water tank. I had a liner installed. Both Steam boiler and hot water tank have flues going through the wall behind the units into the chimney lined with a elbow , T pipe and then attached to the liner. We then in cased it all in concrete, we even went as far as dropping concrete from the top of the chimney down to insulate the liner, we even dug up the dirt around the outside of the chimney and poured more concrete. Why do I get water in the house from the bottom of the flue when the boiler fires up . Is this some sort of condensation or vapors ? Thank you

ANSWER: Hello Paul, Insulating a liner is not down with Concrete but with insulating material (either poured Thermix or a blanket wrap) was the liner sized properly?
Yes Natural Gas produces a ton of moisture and if not vented correctly it will condensate, I do not know if you can do any thing about it now? Maybe a new Class "A" chimney?
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 they should be able to help.
Hope this helps
James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Mr Ball,,This work was done by a Certified Chimney sweep. I beleive it is the concrete that is still wet since it was poured down the chimney in 25 degree weather. The water was pouring in the house through the flue as they were pouring it down the chimney ( the T seperated) I had them return 10 days later and open the wall and replace the T, elbow and flue that connects to the elbow because every time the system would fire up water would seep through the flue. Once again they incased the new flue that penetrates the wall in concrete . As they were finishing closing the wall and before they attached the flue to the boiler water from the concrete started to seep through the elbow joint and water started to run down the flue and drip out of the flue and down the inside
of the wall. We shoved a rag inside the flue an dried it the best we can.
All these connections are above grade in the chimney.
So .. Every time the boiler fires up some water will seep through the flue and down the wall. Is it the concrete ? If I wait until the spring time all should be dry  OR is it the condinsation ?
Thank you

ANSWER: Welcome back Paul, Concrete getting hard is a chemical reaction not a drying issue, and they must have used Thermix (looks like concrete).
not sure what you have going on there has the boiler been checked? and what did the sweep say?
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr Ball,
Just had the plumber back to check the boiler and all is well. As he removed the flue pipe from the wall water splashed all over him. As he shoved a rag in the pipe to soak up the water we noticed the elbow that is attached to the T has water seeping through it . He reinstalled the flue and fired up the boiler. Ten minute later the water started to drip through the flue. We removed the flue and we can clealy see water comming in from the seam in the elbow. They poured so much water down the chimeny  in 25 degree weather that the chiminey is saturated with water that freezes, thaws and seeps through the elbow. We looked at the chimney outside and you can see the base of the chiney is wet on a dry winters day . As I say in my last response I think by sping time it should finally dry out.
Any final thoughts?
Thank you
PG  

Answer
Welcome back Paul, has the liner been checked for a blockage? Nest? it sounds like you have a high efficiency boiler and if it is hitting a nest in the new liner then it will act like a filter and send that water back down the chimney (when you burn natural gas it produces a ton of moisture) is there a screen at the top to stop any thing from nesting in the new liner.
I am just curious what did the certified sweep say?
you may want to have an other certified sweep take a look.
sorry you are having so many problems, so please keep me posted
Happy New Year (that is dryer...lol)
James