Chimney & Fireplaces/Old masonry chimney

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Expert: - 9/17/2007


Question
I recently bought a 1918 house with a dual flue chimney.Someone apparently ran a gas furnace into the unlined flue for a number of years.Now there is a corrugated aluminum flex tubing to safely vent the gas from the hot water boiler.But the exterior chimney above the roof is very bad..crumbling brick exteriors that fall off upon touching.It obviously needs replacement.I am considering the options of rebuilding the brick chimney or replacing with steel flues below the roofline.Currently my problem is excessive condensation in the flexible vent pipe when the gas boiler cycles...Condensate runs down the flue tube and leaks out a cleanout T in the basement.Please advise on any fix for that,and when a gas appliance is run into a chimney does it ruin the chimney all the way down?This chimney is a central located feature of the house,and does not leak anywhere otherwise.Would the correct procedure be to take it down below roofline and see how it looks there?Thanks,Bob

Answer
Hi Bob,

If you'll install an insulated stainless steel lining system with a condensate tube in the bottom of the liner tee, you should be OK.

With an insulated and properly-sized stainless steel lining system, the condensate problem should be nearly eliminated.

I would recommend rebuilding the flue from the roofline upwards.  (or however low you have to go to get to solid masonry to work with.)


I would recommend you contact a local CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep to do some on-site diagnosis of your problem.

You can find a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep at www.csia.org.

Thanks for using AllExperts.Com and good luck with your project.

Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc.
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com

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Bart Ogden

Expertise

I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.

Experience


Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas

Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee

Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps

Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate

Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems

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