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Chimney & Fireplaces/Chimeny Liner and liner for hot water boiler

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Expert: - 3/23/2011


Question
Dear Sir or Madam:

I recently had my fireplace cleaned for the 1st time in 20 years and had a camera installed to check the interior only to find out the a liner is needed ASAP.  In doing the inspection we found out that my boiler/hot water tank are both being vented through the same chimney, which I was told is illegal.  The contractor suggest that I have liner installed separately for the boiler and run it outside of the house adjacent the chimney, which is ugly but looks like my only option? Install a separate liner for the fireplace?  Do you have any suggestions/options? I want to continue to use the fireplace but need a solution how to install proper piping that will be insulated for the boiler and hot tank. Appreciate your help!

Answer
Diane,

You have received sound advice. The fireplace cannot share a flue with any other appliance. As for the boiler, it sounds like have little or no options to choose from and a the ugly alternative most likely has everything to do with why the two appliances share a common flue in the first place. Go with the advice of the pro you have contracted with and be safer for it. I would be sure the chimney man would advise if there was any other options, sorry I cant see it all myself.

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Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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